Joe Smith Jr: page 21

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Hart: I Feel "Much More" Stronger At 175, My Body Is More Mature

•Jan 11, 2020

This weekend will mark just the second fight into Jesse Hart’s run as a light heavyweight contender, yet already long enough to feel the positive effects of fighting at a heavier weight. The second-generation boxer from Philadelphia—whose father Eugene ‘Cyclone’ Hart was a 1970s middleweight knockout artist—abandoned the super middleweight division following a repeat 12-round title fight loss to Gilberto Ramirez in December 2018, with his sights firmly set on making a run at light heavyweight. The next step comes this Saturday, as he faces dangerous former title challenger Joe Smith Jr, live on ESPN from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Smith: I Was Unfamiliar With Hart Until They Mentioned Him Wanting To Fight Me

Jake Donovan

•Jan 11, 2020

For all the talk of this being a grudge match, Joe Smith Jr. had to be brought up to speed on why a fight with Jesse Hart was so personal. “I was unfamiliar with him until they mentioned him about wanting to fight me, pretty much,” Smith Jr. (24-3, 20KOs) confessed during a recent media conference call to discuss his light heavyweight clash with Philadelphia’s Hart, which airs live on ESPN this Saturday from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Hart: I Might Not Fight The Way I Fought Barrera, I Might Step To Joe Smith

Jake Donovan

•Jan 11, 2020

Jesse Hart can boast greater success than Joe Smith Jr. against their two common opponents, more notably their separate entries against perennial light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera. Whereas Smith Jr. suffered a lopsided loss—and a broken jaw— at the hands of the Miami-based Cuban boxer, Hart made his splash in the light heavyweight division with a clear-cut points win over Barrera last June. By his own admission—to the point of insistence—it has nothing to do with how their own head on collision will play out this weekend.

Joe Smith: Barrera's Not The Same; Hart Should've Stopped Him

Keith Idec

•Jan 11, 2020

NEW YORK – Joe Smith Jr. wasn’t impressed by Jesse Hart’s light heavyweight debut. Hart beat Sullivan Barrera by unanimous decision in their 10-rounder June 15 in Las Vegas, but Smith was surprised that version of Barrera took Hart the distance. Cuba’s Barrera, 37, had been stopped by Dmitry Bivol two bouts before he fought Hart, thus Smith assumed Hart would’ve beaten Barrera by knockout or technical knockout, too.

Photos: Jesse Hart, Joe Smith - Ready For War in Atlantic City

Boxing Photos

•Jan 10, 2020

Joe Smith, Jesse Hart Weights Photos Gallery - Jesse Hart and Joe Smith Jr. faced off before their highly anticipated 10-round light heavyweight showdown Saturday from Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Hart is attempting to gain a measure of revenge, as Smith knocked out his mentor and close friend Bernard Hopkins back in December 2016. (photos by Mikey Williams)

Jesse Hart-Joe Smith Weigh-In Results From Atlantic City

Keith Idec

•Jan 10, 2020

ATLANTIC CITY – Jesse Hart has expressed concern that he’ll fight with too much emotion when he faces Joe Smith Jr. on Saturday night. Hart wants revenge because Smith emphatically ended the career of the legendary fighter Hart idolized, Bernard Hopkins. Hart hasn’t forgotten how hurt he was when Smith knocked Hopkins out of the ring in what turned out to be Hopkins’ final fight three years ago in Inglewood, California.

Hart: My Power's Not Being Taken Serious In Joe Smith Fight

Keith Idec

•Jan 10, 2020

Boxing bores Jesse Hart sometimes. The veteran light heavyweight knows it’s the safest, smartest path to victory for him. There are just times when Hart wants to go at it, even against a supposedly superior puncher, because he feels obligated to entertain fans that pay to watch him fight.

Photos: Jesse Hart, Joe Smith - Face To Face in Atlantic City

Boxing Photos

•Jan 9, 2020

Jesse Hart, Joe Smith Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Jesse Hart and Joe Smith Jr. faced off two days before their highly anticipated 10-round light heavyweight showdown Saturday from Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Hart is attempting to gain a measure of revenge, as Smith knocked out his mentor and close friend Bernard Hopkins back in December 2016. (photos by Mikey Williams)

Hart: If Joe Smith Gets Courageous, He'll Get Hurt Really Bad

Keith Idec

•Jan 9, 2020

Joe Smith Jr. has never legitimately lost by knockout. The only technical-knockout defeat on his record was the result of Smith suffering a broken jaw in the second round of a fight against Eddie Caminero in August 2010. Smith continued for two rounds despite two fractures in his jaw, but eventually he succumbed to the extreme pain and lost by fourth-round TKO.

Hart: This Fight Is Definitely With A Target on Joe Smith's Back

Jake Donovan

•Jan 8, 2020

The first career hometown headliner for Philadelphia’s Jesse Hart nearly proved disastrous, surviving rocky moments and a 10th round knockdown to barely get past veteran spoiler Dashon Johnson in their March 2016 battle. It wasn’t even close to the worst part of his year.