“The Common Man”, Joe Smith Jr., (23-1, 19 KO’s), boxing’s best story of 2016, will make his first start of the new year, defending his WBC International Light Heavyweight Title against world ranked Sullivan Barrera, (19-1, 14 KO’s) on Friday, July 15 from the iconic, Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles and live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark (9:50 p.m. ET/PT).
Joe Smith Jr.
Adonis Stevenson-Joe Smith Jnr in “advanced talks” for April fight
Can “Irish Bomber” Joe Smith Junior win a world title? It seems there is a good chance we will get our answer this April. Smith, the man who (hopefully) ended the career of the great Bernard Hopkins to cap off a tremendous breakthrough 2016, certainly deserves a shot and, according to a very interesting piece on RingTV.com, Smith could face reigning WBC 175-pound king Adonis Stevenson on April 29.
The WBC did order Stevenson to defend against the winner of the February 24 Lucian Bute-Eleider Alvarez fight, but Yvon Michel, who promotes “Superman,” told Ring how he believes the WBC “will go with us if we can make a side deal with the mandatory contender” (be it Bute or Alvarez). Both Michel and Smith’s promoter Joe DeGuardia believe a Stevenson-Smith fight is a big and significant one, and how the WBC will allow it to happen.
Hopkins-Smith: A Punch is Just a Fast Push or Shove
Maybe Bernard “The Executioner/Alien” Hopkins (58-8-2, 32 KOs) was right when he said Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr. (23-1-0, 19 KOs) pushed him out of the ring at The Forum, Inglewood, CA. After all a punch is just a push with speed. To be more exact, its speed and a clenched fist that changes the prod into a strike or blow. It was several of those that propelled Hopkins head first through the ropes on to the concrete floor below. The coalition of those blows brought about the unthinkable…..a stoppage of the wily old predator, who even at age 51 was still the favorite.
Is Joe Smith Junior The Fighter of The Year?
Go back to the start of this year and chances are you had never heard of Joe Smith Junior. But then, in June, “The Irish Bomber” scored a huge upset when he took out the tough and well known Andrzej Fonfara inside a round. This win certainly got the 27-year-old known, and the stoppage victory also earned Smith Jnr an even bigger fight – one with living legend Bernard Hopkins, and we all know what happened there this past Saturday night.
Now, with his fighter going 3-0(3) in 2016, Promoter Joe DeGuardia feels Smith is more than worthy of picking up The Fighter of The Year award. Speaking with Ringtv.com, DeGuardia explained why Smith, 23-1(19) is more worthy than Terence Crawford; Crawford being the front-runner for the distinction in the opinion of many people.
Joe Smith Jr. the first fighter to TKO Bernard Hopkins
Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr. became the first fighter to knock out the legend Bernard Hopkins as he knocked Hopkins completely out of the ring with a vicious 4 punch combination in the 8th round. Hopkins was unable to beat the 20 count administered by referee Jack Reiss constituting a knockout win by Smith Jr. (the bout was officially declared a TKO victory). The fight was the main event on HBO Championship Boxing.
Smith, Jr. Upsets Hopkins in his Farewell Fight
Joe Smith, Jr., landed five left and right hooks in the eighth round and then connected on a devastating left hook that knocked Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins out of the ring and caused him to land hard on his head and twist his right ankle. Hopkins was unable to get back into the ring before the twenty second count expired, which gave Smith, Jr. the unexpected technical knockout victory with 53 seconds left in the round. This was the last bout of Hopkins’ outstanding Hall of Fame career that began 28 years ago in 1988.
This fight took place at the Forum in Inglewood, California. It was broadcasted on HBO Champion Boxing.
Smith Jnr-Hopkins: will there be a rematch; will Hopkins roll the dice for one more “final 1!”
The fairy-tail ending didn’t come for the great Bernard Hopkins last night, as his “Final 1” against the much younger Joe Smith Junior saw the amazing 51 year old punched out of the ring in the 8th-round and TKO’d to defeat. Hopkins cried foul afterwards, saying Smith pushed him out of the ring, but replays show Hopkins was punched out.
It’s a shame Hopkins, 52 next month, wasn’t able to go out a winner, while it’s also a shame Hopkins was unable to accept the loss for what it was – a loss. Hopkins suggested the result should have been a no-contest, and while he also said last night’s bout will indeed be his last one as advertised, there is always a chance Hopkins will change his mind in the coming days, weeks or months.
Joe Smith Jr. sends Bernard Hopkins into retirement
Joe Smith, Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs) retained his WBC International Light Heavyweight Title with a technical knockout victory after sending Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-8-2, 32 KOs) through the ropes in the eighth round. Hopkins was unable to get back into the ring after sustaining an injury to his ankle, and the fight was stopped at 53 seconds into round eight.
“It feels great, it’s the best feeling in the world to accomplish something I set out for and wanted to do,” said Joe Smith, Jr. “I had seen him every time I threw the right hand, he was throwing the left. I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him until I saw him go out, and I landed that left hook until he went out. I knew he had time to go out, but I hit him with four or five clean shots and they were good shots on the button. I knew he was a true champion, and if he didn’t get injured he’d be back here. I came here to do my job, and this is my coming out party too. I had to finish him, it was either my career was going to end and his was going to end, but I needed mine to continue. I’m going to get back in the gym and train hard for my next opponent. I’m up for anything. I have lots of respect for Bernard. He is a true champion. Lots of people love Bernard and still will because he’s a true champion.”
Results: Joe Smith Jr. stops Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins, (55-8-2, 32 KOs) saw his career end in a less than glorious way on Saturday night in getting knocked out of the ring in the 8th round in losing a TKO to knockout artist Joe Smith Jr. (23-1, 19 Kos) on HBO Championship Boxing from the Forum in Inglewood, California.
Weights: Hopkins 174, Smith 175 – Photo Gallery
Joe “The Beast” Smith and Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins both tipped the scales at 174 pounds ahead of their clash tomorrow night from The Forum and televised live on HBO starting at 10pm EST. At stake will be Smith’s WBC International Light Heavyweight belt and the contest is scheduled for 12 rounds or less.
Smith, hailing from Mastic Beach, NY brings a record of 22-1 18KO’s into the fight while the former multiple division champion and legend Bernard Hopkins enters with a record of 55-7-2 32KO’s.
Both fighters were presented with a WBC Onyx commemorative belt in honor of Hopkins final fight.