Joe Smith Jr. once seemed like a longshot to win a world title.
The Long Islander was big and strong but he had a limited amateur career and learned on the job as a professional. So when he defeated in succession Jesse Hart, Eleider Alvarez and finally Maxim Vlasov to win the WBO light heavyweight title last year, he realized a dream.
What comes next? Why not shoot for the moon?
That starts with a daunting challenge against IBF and WBC titleholder Artur Beterbiev on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, not far from his neighborhood. If he can overcome 6½-1 odds and claim three of the major four titles, WBA champ Dmitry Bivol could come next.
“I want to unify the division as quickly as possible,” Smith told Dan Rafael of the Big Fight Weekend podcast. “There hasn’t been a unified champion in the light heavyweight division [in the four-belt era]. I would like to be the first to do it.
“I have a long way to go. I have to get past Beterbiev, a tough guy.”
Indeed. Beterbiev has stopped all 17 of his opponents. And the 37-year-old Russian isn’t merely a slugger. The two-time Olympian for his native country reportedly had 300 amateur fights, finishing with a record of 295-5.
Smith (28-3, 22 KOs) has improved but he lacks the pedigree of Beterbiev, which is a disadvantage. At the same time, he has as much one-punch knockout power as his more-heralded opponent, maybe more.
That and his toughness might be his best hope in this fight.
“We both hit very hard,” he said on the podcast. “We’re both also very tough guys. He’s been hurt before and he’s come back stronger the next round. He looked great. I’ve been in tough fights … and came back strong the next round. …
“This fight, really, I don’t know what’s going to happen. We both can box. We both have decent experience now, he more than me. I’ve been in a lot of big fights now. I’m ready for this.”
If he is and gets his hand raised, he’ll set his sights on a man who has already beat him: Bivol, who Smith believes will be motivated to face him because all four belts would be on the line.
Bivol defeated Smith by a near-shutout decision in March 2019, before the Hart, Alvarez and Vlasov fights. Smith’s only memorable moment was a right hand to the head at the end of Round 10 that hurt Bivol.
Smith believes he would do better in a second fight.
“A lot has changed,” he said. “I have a lot more experience. When I fought him, it was after a layoff (one fight, against Melvin Russell, in 21 months). I just came back from an injury. I had one fight and jumped into the ring with a world champion. With the experience I have since it would be a different fight.
“… If I had 10 more seconds in that round [in the first fight] I would’ve been world champion then. I just ran out of time.”
First things first, though.
He has a monumental challenge on Saturday. If he emerges victorious, then he could get the opportunity to reach rarified air. Yes, Smith is thinking big.
“I’m glad I accomplished … becoming world champion,” he said. “Now I have a new goal in mind. I want to keep working toward it, to be the best I can be. I believe that if I can beat Beterbiev and Bivol, I can be recognized as one of the best light heavyweights ever.”
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