
Joe Smith Jr.: record, next fight and profile →


Joe Smith Jr. respects Bernard Hopkins and everything the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion has accomplished during his Hall-of-Fame career.

John David Jackson is back in Bernard Hopkins’ corner. Jackson worked the opposing corner when Sergey Kovalev dominated Hopkins two years ago in Atlantic City. But BoxingScene.com has learned that the former junior middleweight and middleweight title-holder, whom Hopkins beat by seventh-round technical knockout in April 1997, is training Hopkins for his December 17 fight against Joe Smith Jr. in Los Angeles.

Rounding out a stacked card featuring boxing legend Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, undefeated featherweight contender Joseph "JoJo" Diaz, Jr. and WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Oleksander Usyk, several red-hot prospects in the Golden Boy Promotions stable will look to move to the next level on December 17 at the "Fabulous" Forum in Inglewood, California.

Featherweight contender Joseph Diaz, Jr. will return to the ring on Dec. 17, Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Robert Diaz confirmed to BoxingScene.com over the weekend. Joseph Diaz made the announcement of his return to the ring on his social media accounts on Friday.

Joe Smith Jr. Video Interview - A boxing legend will look to add an exclamation point to end his professional career with the same style, speed and slickness that has defined him in the ring for nearly three decades, as 51-year-old, two-division former world champion and Future Hall of Hamer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) prepares to square off against hard-hitting Light Heavyweight contender Joe Smith, Jr. (21-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round fight from Los Angeles’ iconic Fabulous Forum. The bout will take place Saturday, December 17 and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

Former Two-Division World Champion and Future Hall of Famer Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins(55-7-2, 32 KOs) and Light Heavyweight Contender Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) today hosted a Los Angeles press conference to discuss their 12-round battle set for December 17 at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and to be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. Face To Face Video - LOS ANGELES – A boxing legend will look to add an exclamation point to end his professional career with the same style, speed and slickness that has defined him in the ring for nearly three decades, as 51-year-old, two-division former world champion and Future Hall of Hamer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) prepares to square off against hard-hitting Light Heavyweight contender Joe Smith, Jr. (21-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round fight from Los Angeles’ iconic Fabulous Forum. The bout will take place Saturday, December 17 and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

Bernard Hopkins Video Interview - LOS ANGELES – A boxing legend will look to add an exclamation point to end his professional career with the same style, speed and slickness that has defined him in the ring for nearly three decades, as 51-year-old, two-division former world champion and Future Hall of Hamer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) prepares to square off against hard-hitting Light Heavyweight contender Joe Smith, Jr. (21-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round fight from Los Angeles’ iconic Fabulous Forum. The bout will take place Saturday, December 17 and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

51-year-old Bernard 'The Executioner' Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) will be looking to go out with a bang, when he returns to the ring for a final time on December 17th from Los Angeles’ iconic Fabulous Forum.