Joe Smith Jr became the new WBO Light Heavyweight world champion with a majority decision win over Maxim Vlasov in Tulsa Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images Joe Smith Jr claimed the vacant WBO Light Heavyweight title in a real war of wills with Maxim Vlasov in front of a decent crowd at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday. Smith (27-3, 21 KOs) had to overcome a nasty cut, and a few hairy moments, before taking a majority decision victory in a close run affair against Vlasov (45-4, 26 KOs). The fight began at a frantic pace, with the 34-year-old making Smith miss and confusing him with an up and down style in the first round.