An opponent has been named for comebacking light heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr. on June 30 at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. Smith (23-2, 18 KOs) will face 39-year-old Melvin “The Romantic Redneck” Russell (11-4-2, 7 KOs). “The Common Man” had his jaw wired shut for over six months following his loss to Sullivan Barrera in July 2017.

In the co-feature, former WBC female champion Kali Reis (13-7, 4 KOs) will fight Szilvia Szabados (17-11, 8 KOs). Reis is coming off her historic bout with undisputed women’s champion Cecilia Braekhus in the first ever women’s bout televised on HBO.