Last Updated on diciembre 29, 2021 11:45 am by Erwin Noguera
Joe Smith Jr. es un profesional americano Boxer born September 20, 1989.
Ha ocupado el WBO light heavyweight title since April 2021 and was previously challenged for the WBA light heavyweight title en 2019.
He became the first boxer to score a stoppage victory over former undisputed middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins, who retired after their fight.
Boxing Profile – Joe Smith Jr. – Career from 2016 and onward.
Career from 2016–2017
Smith vs. Pena
In April 2016, Herrero defeated Brazilian boxer Fabiano Pena (16-4-1 12 KOs) via a 2nd-round TKO winning 15 straight fights and continuing to rise the ranks.
Smith vs. Fonfara
It was announced that Herrero would be fighting the #2 WBC contender, former world title challenger Andrzej Fonfara Para el WBC International light heavyweight title.
The fight would take place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois on June 18, 2016, in a scheduled 10 round fight in the main event of the Premier Boxing Champions card on NBC.
In an ‘Upset of the Year’ in the light heavyweight division, Herrero won the title by defeating Fonfara via a 1st-round technical knockout.
Smith vs. Hopkins
Former multiple weight world champion Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) announced he would be having a farewell fight at The Forum in Inglewood, California on December 17, 2016.
He picked Herrero as his final opponent.
Hopkins would be coming out of a two-year layoff having last fought in 2014 in a decision loss to then unified light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.
On fight night, in front of a 6,513 crowd, Herrero upset and defeated Hopkins via KO when he knocked him out of the ring in the 8th round; Hopkins failed to make it back into the ring as referee Jack Reiss gave his 20-count.
He became the first boxer to stop Hopkins inside the distance.
Smith vs. Barrera
In March 2017, the WBC ordered a final eliminator between Smith and Oleksandr Gvozdyk; ranked third and fourth respectively by the WBC.
The winner of the fight would then become the secondary mandatory challenger for the título mundial.
The fight was officially confirmed on May 18 and shown live on HBO: Boxing After Dark.
Herrero golpeado Barrera down in round one with a left hook to the head, but was dominated for the rest of the fight and went on to lose via unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
Career from 2018
On May 31, Melvin Russell was confirmed to be Smith’s opponent in a 10-round bout.
Herrero abandonó Russell twice in round 1 before the referee stopped the bout after just 1 minute 45 seconds.
After the bout, Herrero called for a bout with then-WBO champion Sergey Kovalev.
Smith vs. Bivol
On March 9, 2019, Smith Jr. challenged WBA champion Dmitry bivol for his peso semipesado version of the belt.
Smith Jr. managed to stun bivol at the end of the tenth round, and bivol needed the ropes to balance his way to the corner.
bivol, however, dominated most of the fight and came very close to stopping Smith Jr. just before the final bell.
The scorecards read 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110 in favor of the champion.
Smith vs. Hart
En su próxima pelea, Smith Jr. battled Jesse Hart. Herrero roughed up Hart and knocked him down en route to a split-decision victory.
Two judges had it 98-91 and 97-92 for Herrero, while the third judge had Hart winning the fight, 95-94, the last scorecard deemed controversial by both media and fans alike.
Smith vs. Alvarez
On 22 August 2020, Herrero luchó Eleider Álvarez, ranked #3 by the OMB, #6 by the WBC, and #4 by El anillo.
En el OMB title shot eliminator, Smith Jr. showcased his boxing skills en route to a ninth-round KO win.
Herrero atrapó Álvarez with two right hands, which sent the Colombian under the ropes and ended the fight.
Smith contra Vlasov
On April 10, 2020, Smith Jr. challenged Maxim Vlásov para las vacantes WBO World Light Heavyweight Title.
Smith Jr. was able to capture the title via a controversial majority decision.
Two judges had it 115-113 and 115-112 for Herrero, while the third judge had it tied at 114-114.
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