Smith: I wanted stop him in his tracks

Joe Smith Jr Victory
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

With his impressive KO win over former champ Eleider Alvarez, Joe Smith Jr. earned a shot at the vacant WBO light heavyweight title formerly held by Canelo Alvarez. He will face the winner of a WBO eliminator between #1 rated Umar Salamov and #2 Maxim Vlasov.

“Coming into this camp, I knew I had to work on my boxing,” said Smith. “I wanted to be sharp, throw a lot of straight punches. I watched his fight with Kovalev, and Kovalev kind of set the way to beat him. So we watched that and worked off of it. I knew coming in today I had to box a little more because he’s got that great right hand. He caught me with it a couple times, but I can take a punch, too.

“Every time he hit me, I wanted to come and stop him in his tracks, and I did that. I stuck to my game plan, and it was a great fight.

“I feel this one is a big one. I really needed it. I wanted to prove I’m not just a knockout guy. I proved my boxing ability, too, and I showed that tonight.”

Porter takes aim at Spence-Garcia winner
Smith Jr. KOs Alvarez in WBO L/H eliminator

Top Boxing News

PLEASE READ
We have a few rules to make our comment section more enjoyable for everyone.
1. Keep comments related to boxing.
2. Be respectful, polite and keep it clean.
3. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
Offending posts will be removed.
Repeat offenders will be put on moderation.
  • Alvarez and Hopkins now have something in common; they both share a KO done by Smith.

  • It’s funny how Smith doesn’t want to be known as ‘just a knockout guy’. Who doesn’t love a power puncher that knocks out a bunch of opposition?

  • This is a really great win for Joe. Knockout of a durable world champion. Now in line for a legit title shot. Hard not to root for the guy.

  • Smith his props look at the men he has defeated fonfara Hopkins Hart and now Alvarez.

  • >