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Joe Smith Jr faces Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO Light Heavyweight title on Saturday night New York hardman, Joe Smith Jr gets a second crack at world honours, and he faces Russia’s Maxim Vlasov, with the vacant WBO Light Heavyweight title the prize for the winner at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma this Saturday night. Smith Jr (26-3, 21 KOs) and Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs) were scheduled to clash back in February, but the latter tested positive for COVID-19 with the contest just days away. The belt was vacated by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez after his win over Sergey Kovalev, but the Russian saw his chance to regain the title go up in smoke with a failed drug test scuppering his return in January.
ESPN Plus Smith vs Vlasov Time: The fighters are expected to ringwalk at around 10:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM PST at Osage Casino, Oklahoma, United States, which is around 3:00 AM BST in the UK. The vacant WBO light heavyweight title will be at-stake. The 31-year-old Smith, most known for sending steal-chinned fight legend Bernard Hopkins through the ropes and into retirement in December 2016, is one of the most exciting fighters in boxing. Durable, explosive and heavy-handed, Smith is coming off his most impressive fight to date - a 9th Round TKO former light heavyweight titlist Eleider Alvarez in August 2020. Don't blink when watching this fella. He can close the show in an instant.
TULSA, OK (March 17, 2021) — If at first you can’t fight, try again. Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov are headed to the Sooner State to fight for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title Saturday, April 10 at Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They were originally scheduled to fight Feb. 13, but Vlasov tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the weigh-in, forcing a postponement. In the 10-round co-feature, unbeaten heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will take on Brian “MVP” Howard. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Tony Holden Productions, Smith-Vlasov and Ajagba-Howard will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 5:30p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT, including a trio of big-punching heavyweights: Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson and Tulsa natives Trey Lippe Morrison (16-0, 16 KOs) and Jeremiah Milton (2-0, 2 KOs).
Upcoming Fights: Junior Lightweight: (1) Miguel Berchelt vs (5) Oscar Valdez, Feb. 20 Minimumweight: (9) Vic Saludar vs Robert Paradero, Feb. 20 Notes: Neither are ranked, but Otto Wallin might make his case if he impresses this coming Saturday against Dominic Breazeale. Breazeale is no top contender, but he’s got power and can be dangerous. If Wallin handles that fight nicely, he’s going to have a solid case, given his only loss is to Tyson Fury, and I still say — correctly — that fight would have been stopped on the cut if it had been almost anyone else, or even just the other way around. Things could shake around soon given we have that, Parker-Fa, and Povetkin-Whyte 2 coming over the next three weekends.
Joe Smith Jr. to Battle Maxim Vlasov for Light Heavyweight World Title February 13 on ESPN – Boxing News – Boxing, UFC and MMA News, Fight Results, Schedule, Rankings, Videos and More 15rounds.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 15rounds.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE KRUSHER VS. THE BULLY: SERGEY KOVALEV TO FACE UNDEFEATED CONTENDER BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV IN CATCHWEIGHT BATTLE – Boxing News – Boxing, UFC and MMA News, Fight Results, Schedule, Rankings, Videos and More 15rounds.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 15rounds.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.