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.
Smith promoter Joe DeGuardia had this to say at the conclusion of the weigh in ” Joe Smith is confident that he will follow up his sensational victory over Andrezj Fonfara with another spectacular performance tomorrow night against the living legend Bernard Hopkins, who I respect very much for fighting Joe Smith Jr. in his final fight. Joe is everything good about our great country, a hard working, down to earth, family man who is striving to better his life for himself and his family and a win over Hopkins will certainly cement that. I look forward to Saturday night and a victory for Joe “The Beast” Smith.
Hopkins vs. Smith, Jr. is a 12-round WBC International Light Heavyweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. The event is sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from Inglewood, California’s “Fabulous” Forum on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for Hopkins vs. Smith, Jr. are on sale and are priced at $25, $50, $75, $105 and $205, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the Forum Box Office (Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. PST to 7:00 p.m. PST) at (310) 330-7300. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The fight is being co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and and will be aired live on HBO at 10pm EST as the main event of HBO’s Championship Boxing series.