Joe Smith Jr.: record, next fight and profile →
As previously reported, 51-year-old former two-division world champion Bernard Hopkins is jumping back into the ring one last time ... and it's really ONE LAST according to his Golden Boy Promotions partner, Oscar De La Hoya ... who says he's making Hopkins promise to hang 'em up FOREVER.
As previously reported by BoxingScene.com's Steve Kim, 51-year-old Bernard Hopkins is scheduled to have his retirement fight on December 17th at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Hopkins' resume reads like a Hall-of-Fame induction ballot. Between holding the record for the record number of title defenses as middleweight champion of the world (20) and moving up to light heavyweight to capture multiple belts in that division, Hopkins fought and defeated a who's who of boxing world champions throughout his remarkable 28-year career.
While the contracts have not been signed, it looks like Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32KOs) will be facing Joe Smith (22-1, 18KOs) in what will be his farewell fight on December 17th at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
The Nassau Coliseum opened up to some of Long Island's brightest boxing stars Wednesday for a tour of the building currently under renovations. The Coliseum will be the location of "Brooklyn Boxing on Long Island," where six to eight fights will be held each year. The building is expected to open during the spring of 2017.
Back in June, light heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 18KOs) pulled off one of the biggest upset of the year when he knocked out top contender Andrzej Fonfara in the first round.
According to Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman advised him that he intends to order a world title eliminator between 2012 Olympic bronze medal winner Oleksandr Gvozdyk (11-0, 9KOs) and big puncher Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 18KOs).
It's a whole new world for Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 18KOs) after shocking the heavily favored and highly regarded Andrzej Fonfara this past weekend in front of a national audience on NBC. Coming in as a sizable underdog, Smith scored a stunning first round TKO. The native of Long Island, New York is now suddenly a player at light heavyweight.
This past Saturday night in Chicago, every saw what should be the current leading candidate for Upset of The Year, as unknown light heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) pulled off a shocking upset with a first round knockout of highly ranked and heavily favored Andrzej Fonfara (28-4, 16 KOs) at the UIC Pavilion.
According to Television By Numbers, Saturday's Premier Boxing Champions televised card on NBC drew an overnight rating of 1.32 million viewers. This edition of PBC on NBC, which began at 8:30PM EST and ran until 11:00PM, saw heavy underdog Joe Smith Jr. make a big statement in the light heavyweight division with a shocking first round knockout of highly ranked Andrzej Fonfara.