Smith Jr signs with inks a deal that will see him featured on the DAZN app!
According to sources, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing has signed light-heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr. The co-promotional deal will give Smith Jr. three-fights and bring him straight to DAZN. He is expected to battle IBF champion Artur Beterbiev on the under-card of Canelo vs. Fielding December 15.
The 29 year-old caught the boxing world’s attention in June of 2016 when he clashed with Andrzej Fonfara. In what some consider “Upset of the Year,” Smith Jr. wasted no time establishing himself as a force. He floored Fonfara twice in the first round; shocking the Chicago crowd and causing the referee to stop the fight.
Be that as it may, Smith Jr’s most career-defining victory came against the legendary Bernard Hopkins. The hard-punching long islander pressed the action for seven rounds occasionally landing hard body shots. Smith Jr’s right-cross found its home in the eighth round, brutally knocking Hopkins out the ring.
Since then, duplicating the success of 2016 has proven to be quite elusive for Smith Jr. A broken jaw and a loss courtesy of Sullivan Barrera, rendered him inactive for much of 2017. Now on the comeback trail, signing with DAZN could breathe life back into his promising career.
By: Cessell Robinson
