The good things keep happening for WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. The New York native is now close to finalizing a two-fight deal that will include his first world title defense later in 2020 and a fight with former champion Danny Jacobs in 2022.
Smith earned the opportunity with a three-fight streak that included a 2020 knockout of former champion Eleider Alvarez and a split decision victory against Jesse Hart earlier this year. Joe Smith Jr. earned his share of the light heavyweight title against Maxim Vlasov in April. The championship victory moved his professional record to 27-3 with 21 knockouts.
The current plan calls for Smith to headline a Madison Square Garden card in either September or October. He will face mandatory challenger Umar Salamov, a fighter with 26 victories over his 27 fight career. A successful defense against Salamov will seal the deal for a fight with Jacobs.
Joe Smith Jr. is best known to boxing fans for his victory against Hall of Fame boxing legend Bernard Hopkins. “The Executioner” was 49 years old and planning to leave the boxing game for good after one final victory. Smith worked construction when he landed the fight with Hopkins. He spoiled Hopkins’ plans and changed his life forever with a vicious combination to send Hopkins through the ropes.
Smith will have the opportunity to raise his profile with a fight against Danny Jacobs. The “Miracle Man” is a popular fighter who has shared the ring with Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez. His story also resonates with fans . Jacobs survived paralysis and life-threatening cancer to become a world champion in the middleweight division.
Jacobs moved up to the 168-pound weight limit in 2019 after losing a middleweight championship fight with Canelo Alvarez. He is 2-0 in that division with victories against Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr. and Gabriel Rosado. The boxing match with Joe Smith Jr. will become Daniel Jacob’s first contest as a light heavyweight.