LIVE: Joe Smith Jr. vs Geffrard FITE & ESPN stream on Jan.15th

By Boxing News - 01/12/2022 - Comments

WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr will make his first title defense against an unlikely contender. British puncher Callum Johnson tested positive for COVID-19, so Smith will now face Steve Geffrard on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Turning Stone Resort Casino and LIVE on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Fans outside the US can watch he fight live on FITE TV:

Image: LIVE: Joe Smith Jr. vs Geffrard FITE & ESPN stream on Jan.15th

In the 10-round co-feature, featherweight contender Abraham Nova (20-0, 14 KOs), who was originally slated to fight Jose Enrique Vivas, will fight Dominican veteran William “El Gago” Encarnacion (19-1, 15 KOs) after Vivas dropped out with an injury.

“I give Steve credit for taking this fight on short notice,” Smith said. “He is a tough guy, and I expect him to bring everything he has for this opportunity. I’m ready to fight regardless of who is in the ring with me. My goal is the same, which is to defend my world title and keep it on Long Island where it belongs.”

Geffrard said, “This is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s crazy how boxing works. One moment I’m thinking about boxing on a local show, then the phone rings for a chance to fight for the WBO world title on ESPN. Unreal!”

Smith (27-3, 21 KOs), the fighting pride of Long Island, won the title last April with a majority decision over Maxim Vlasov. His proposed October return was postponed due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, and with Johnson out, he turns his attention to Geffrard (18-2, 12 KOs), a 31-year-old native of Miami, Florida.

Geffrard is a nine-year pro who has won 18 straight fights since starting his career 0-2. He upped his record to 18-2 last March, winning an eight-round unanimous decision over longtime contender Denis Grachev. Geffrard had a fight scheduled for Jan. 8 in Delray Beach, Florida, but the “South Florida Cinderella Man” jumped at the chance to fight Smith on eight days’ notice.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, tickets priced from $49 to $89 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office, charge by phone by calling 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.

(ESPN & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

• Joe Smith Jr. 174.25 lbs vs. Steve Geffrard 173.5 lbs
(Smith’s WBO Light Heavyweight Title — 12 Rounds)

• Abraham Nova 126.75 lbs vs. William Encarnacion 127 lbs
(Featherweight — 10 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT)

• Omar Rosario 139.25 lbs vs. Raekwon Butler 138.25 lbs
(Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

• Jahi Tucker 146.75 lbs vs. Akeem Black 145.75 lbs
(Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

• Troy Isley 156.25 lbs vs. Harry Keenan Cruz-Cubano 156.25 lbs
(Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

• Lyubomyr Pinchuk 194.5 lbs vs. Jose Mario Flores 197.5 lbs
(Cruiserweight — 8 Rounds)