Joe Smith Jr. to Battle Maxim Vlasov for Light Heavyweight World Title February 13 on ESPN
Light heavyweight contender Joe “The
Beast” Smith Jr., the consummate everyman, spent more than a decade as a
union laborer on Long Island. He now owns and operates a tree service
business, chopping and trimming trees when he’s not training.
At 31 years old, this far-from-average Joe will battle Russian veteran
Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title Saturday,
Feb. 13. In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, former world champion
Richard “RC” Commey will fight Dominican slickster Jackson Marinez.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and
Patriot Promotions, Smith-Vlasov and Commey-Marinez will be televised live
on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
“This is Rocky IV come to life,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Joe
Smith Jr. is boxing’s blue-collar hero, a relentless fighter who chops down
trees outside the ring and chops down opponents when the lights are bright.
Maxim Vlasov is a tough Russian who is going to meet Joe punch for punch in
the center of the ring. This will be an early contender for 2021 Fight of
the Year.”
DeGuardia said, “I am very confident that Joe Smith Jr. will be the new WBO
world champion, but I also know that Maxim Vlasov is a strong and seasoned
fighter who also wants to become champion. It will make for a great night
of boxing on ESPN. Kudos to the WBO for recognizing Joe’s talents and
mandating this fight, and to Bob Arum and Top Rank for their continued
excellence during this pandemic.”
Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) is best known for sending living legend Bernard
Hopkins through the ropes and into retirement in 2016, but a world title
has thus far proven elusive. He received a shot at the WBA light
heavyweight world title in March 2019 and nearly knocked out Dmitry Bivol
in the 10th round, but Bivol hung on to win a unanimous decision. Smith
rampaged in 2020, dominating Jesse Hart over 10 rounds and knocking out
former world champion Eleider Alvarez in an August title eliminator. Those
victories propelled Smith to the WBO No. 1 ranking and a second crack at
world title glory.
Smith said, “I have worked very hard to get a second opportunity at a world
title. I feel I have improved, and on February 13, I am going to make my
dream come true and become world champion.”
Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs), a 15-year-pro, has been a world-level operator at
super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight. He moved down to
light heavyweight in early 2019 and soon joined the ranks of the top
contenders. In a six-month span, Vlasov stopped Omar Garcia in four rounds,
topped longtime contender Isaac Chilemba by unanimous decision to avenge a
2011 defeat, and shut out the previously undefeated Emmanuel Martey over 10
rounds.
“This is a great chance, and perhaps my last opportunity, to finally become
a world champion,” Vlasov said. “Smith is a strong and relentless fighter,
so I expect a very serious challenge.”
Commey (29-3, 26 KOs), from Accra, Ghana, has been a lightweight since
turning pro in his home nation in February 2011. He fell just short in his
first attempt at a world title, dropping a split decision to Robert Easter
Jr. in September 2016 for the vacant IBF title. Commey won the IBF title in
February 2019 with a second-round stoppage over Isa Chaniev, then defended
it in June with an eighth-round knockout over former world champion Ray
Beltran. His title reign ended that December, when Teofimo Lopez emerged
with a star-making second-round TKO. Commey has not fought since the Lopez
fight and is re-energized for another world title run.
Commey said, “It’s been a long and frustrating wait to get back into the
ring, and February 13 can’t come soon enough. I’ve kept myself in shape,
but once I heard the date, I stepped up my training. All I’ve been thinking
about is winning back my title. I am not looking past Jackson Marinez, as I
know he is a tough, slick fighter, so he has my full attention. The road to
redemption begins now.”
Marinez (19-1, 7 KOs), from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, entered 2020
largely unknown to fight fans. That all changed in August, when he outboxed
the unbeaten Rolando Romero over 12 rounds. The official judges disagreed
with most boxing observers, and Marinez lost a unanimous decision. Trained
by Robert Garcia in Riverside, Calif., Marinez gets a shot at redemption
and would enter the world title picture with a victory over Commey.
Use the hashtag #SmithVlasov to join the conversation on social media. For
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