Joe Smith Jr. is on the brink of entering a world title bout. The former construction worker turned light heavyweight boxer is preparing for his inaugural world title fight against Dmitry Bivol, a Russian professional boxer who has held the WBA light-heavyweight title since 2017.
The 29-year-old boxer previously held the regional WBC International light heavyweight title from 2016 to 2017. Smith Jr. gained recognition in the boxing world after a remarkable first-round knockout victory over Andrzej Fonfara. His profile in the sport soared further following a bout against former undisputed middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins, where he caused an upset by knocking Hopkins down in the 8th round, becoming the first boxer to defeat Hopkins inside the distance.
However, Smith Jr. faced a setback in his next fight after sustaining a significant injury that kept him out of the ring for 11 months. A pivotal matchup was scheduled between Smith Jr. and Oleksandr Gvozdyk in March 2017, serving as the final eliminator. The victor of this contest would become the mandatory secondary challenger for the world title. Subsequently, a fight was announced between Smith and Cuban light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera by Boxing Scene in May 2017.
During the bout, Smith Jr. managed to knock Barrera down in the first round, but Barrera retaliated by breaking Smith Jr.’s jawline. Despite the injury, Smith Jr. displayed resilience and determination throughout the fight. Speaking to ESPN, he emphasized the significance of the upcoming match, stating, “This fight means everything to me. It’s everything I’ve worked for in my entire career, and I’m truly excited about it.” Smith Jr. expressed his ambition to prove himself as the new champion and highlighted his belief in winning the fight, underscoring the immense importance of the opportunity to contend for and potentially secure a world title.
