Joe Smith Jr.: record, next fight and profile →
JOE SMITH JR. (23-2 18KO's) makes his much anticipated return to the ring on June 30th at Mohegan Sun Arena, in Uncasville, Connecticut. STAR BOXING'S "SLUGFEST at the SUN" is set to be one of boxing's best cards thus far in 2018.
Embracing the moniker the "Common Man," Local 66 Laborers Construction Union worker, Smith Jr., exploded onto the national boxing scene beginning in 2016. Backed by his union brothers, Smith Jr. would wield a sledgehammer by day and lace up his gloves to train by night. His work ethic and humble personality gravitated fans towards him, as he quickly became the national champion of the working man.
After being boxing's Cinderella story of 2016, it was Sullivan Barrera who struck midnight for Joe Smith Jr. - who was defeated by the Cuban back on July 15th of last year. After scoring a big knockdown in the first round, Smith was unable to capitalize as Barrera recovered and outboxed him for the remainder of the fight.
According to promoter, Joe DeGuardia, light heavyweight Joe Smith is recovering well from the broken jaw he suffered at the hands of Sullivan Barrera on July 15th at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Smith gamely fought on for much of the fight with that ailment in losing a ten round decision. It was a loss that disrupted the momentum he had from a banner 2016.
There was a lot of confusion last weekend, when light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera fought Joe Smith Jr. in an HBO televised opener from The Forum in Los Angeles, California. Barrera went down in the first round, but got up and then dominated the rest of the way for a dominant ten round unanimous decision win.
HBO’s broadcast of the Miguel Berchelt-Takashi Miura main event Saturday night peaked at 729,000 viewers, according to ratings released Tuesday morning by Nielsen Media Research. Their 12-round, 130-pound title fight, which Berchelt won convincingly, drew an average viewership of 683,000. The overall viewership represented an increase from Berchelt’s HBO debut on January 28.
Los Angeles - Newly crowned WBC Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Sullivan Barrera (20-1, 14 KOs) gave a career-making performance, getting off the deck in the first round to take a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Joe Smith, Jr. (23-2, 19 KOs). The judges scored the fight 96-93 and 97-92 twice.
The Forum, Inglewood, California - In a battle for the WBC International light heavyweight title, Sullivan Barrera (20-1, 14 KOs) overcame a first round knockdown to dominate Joe Smith Jr. (23-2, 19 KOs) to a ten round unanimous decision. The scores were 96-93, 87-92 and 97-92.
Sullivan Barrera is in the right frame of mind heading into his big clash tonight. Not only does he believe all the pressure is on Joe Smith to pull out a victory, but he finally has someone close to him who he has not seen in years. Barrera also believes he is one of the best fighters at 175 pounds and will further cement that with an impressive performance tonight.
INGLEWOOD - All six participants for Saturday night's HBO 'Boxing After Dark' telecast made weight Friday afternoon. Miguel Berchelt (31-1, with 28 KOs) will defend his WBC junior lightweight title against Takashi Miura (31-3-2, with 24 KOs). Both fighters weighed in at 129.2 pounds.