2/13 ESPN: Richard Commey vs Jackson Marinez / Adam Lopez vs. Jason Sanchez

[patscorpio]

Light heavyweight contender Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr., the consummate everyman, spent more than a decade as a union laborer on Long Island. He now owns and operates a tree service business, chopping and trimming trees when he’s not training.

At 31 years old, this far-from-average Joe will battle Russian veteran Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title Saturday, Feb. 13. In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, former world champion Richard “RC” Commey will fight Dominican slickster Jackson Marinez.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Patriot Promotions, Smith-Vlasov and Commey-Marinez will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

“This is Rocky IV come to life,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Joe Smith Jr. is boxing’s blue-collar hero, a relentless fighter who chops down trees outside the ring and chops down opponents when the lights are bright. Maxim Vlasov is a tough Russian who is going to meet Joe punch for punch in the center of the ring. This will be an early contender for 2021 Fight of the Year.”

DeGuardia said, "I am very confident that Joe Smith Jr. will be the new WBO world champion, but I also know that Maxim Vlasov is a strong and seasoned fighter who also wants to become champion. It will make for a great night of boxing on ESPN. Kudos to the WBO for recognizing Joe's talents and mandating this fight, and to Bob Arum and Top Rank for their continued excellence during this pandemic."

Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) is best known for sending living legend Bernard Hopkins through the ropes and into retirement in 2016, but a world title has thus far proven elusive. He received a shot at the WBA light heavyweight world title in March 2019 and nearly knocked out Dmitry Bivol in the 10th round, but Bivol hung on to win a unanimous decision. Smith rampaged in 2020, dominating Jesse Hart over 10 rounds and knocking out former world champion Eleider Alvarez in an August title eliminator. Those victories propelled Smith to the WBO No. 1 ranking and a second crack at world title glory.

Smith said, “I have worked very hard to get a second opportunity at a world title. I feel I have improved, and on February 13, I am going to make my dream come true and become world champion.”

Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs), a 15-year-pro, has been a world-level operator at super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight. He moved down to light heavyweight in early 2019 and soon joined the ranks of the top contenders. In a six-month span, Vlasov stopped Omar Garcia in four rounds, topped longtime contender Isaac Chilemba by unanimous decision to avenge a 2011 defeat, and shut out the previously undefeated Emmanuel Martey over 10 rounds.

“This is a great chance, and perhaps my last opportunity, to finally become a world champion,” Vlasov said. “Smith is a strong and relentless fighter, so I expect a very serious challenge.”

Commey (29-3, 26 KOs), from Accra, Ghana, has been a lightweight since turning pro in his home nation in February 2011. He fell just short in his first attempt at a world title, dropping a split decision to Robert Easter Jr. in September 2016 for the vacant IBF title. Commey won the IBF title in February 2019 with a second-round stoppage over Isa Chaniev, then defended it in June with an eighth-round knockout over former world champion Ray Beltran. His title reign ended that December, when Teofimo Lopez emerged with a star-making second-round TKO. Commey has not fought since the Lopez fight and is re-energized for another world title run.

Commey said, “It's been a long and frustrating wait to get back into the ring, and February 13 can’t come soon enough. I've kept myself in shape, but once I heard the date, I stepped up my training. All I've been thinking about is winning back my title. I am not looking past Jackson Marinez, as I know he is a tough, slick fighter, so he has my full attention. The road to redemption begins now.”

Marinez (19-1, 7 KOs), from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, entered 2020 largely unknown to fight fans. That all changed in August, when he outboxed the unbeaten Rolando Romero over 12 rounds. The official judges disagreed with most boxing observers, and Marinez lost a unanimous decision. Trained by Robert Garcia in Riverside, Calif., Marinez gets a shot at redemption and would enter the world title picture with a victory over Commey.

 

[patscorpio]

Smith-Vlasov Undercard: Lopez-Sanchez, Anderson-Ibeh, Adames
By Random Hits

Published On Thu Jan 28, 2021, 04:13 PM EST

Featherweight action star Adam “BluNose” Lopez and Jason “El Alacrancito” Sanchez are ready for a phone booth battle. Lopez will defend his NABF belt in a 10-rounder against Sanchez Saturday, Feb. 13, on the undercard of the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title bout between Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In a six-round heavyweight special attraction, 21-year-old knockout artist Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson will take on Kingsley Ibeh, who went 2-0-1 last year inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble.

Lopez-Sanchez and Anderson-Ibeh will stream live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, preceding the ESPN telecast (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) featuring Smith-Vlasov and Richard Commey-Jackson Marinez.

Lopez (14-2, 6 KOs), from Glendale, Calif., has earned his reputation as the “Glendale Gatti” with a series of action-packed fights. Following his controversial TKO loss to Oscar Valdez in November 2019, Lopez returned last June with a majority decision over Louie Coria in one of the year’s best fights. Sanchez (15-2, 8 KOs) challenged Valdez for the WBO featherweight world title in June 2019 and dropped a competitive unanimous decision. He has split a pair of bouts since then, most recently falling short via 10-round decision to Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz last June.

“On February 13, we’re back on the big screen,” Lopez said. “Mark your calendars, call off work, do what you have to do. You don’t want to miss this one. This is the year ‘BluNose’ gets his strap. Stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen.”

Sanchez said, “l've never been more ready. I just came back from a loss, so I am more determined and hungrier than ever. I will not take another loss, and that is my biggest motivation."

Anderson (7-0, 7 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, went 5-0 in 2020, including four Bubble knockouts. He most recently knocked out Luis Eduardo Pena in one round, the fifth first-round stoppage of his young career. Ibeh (5-1-1, 4 KOs), a former collegiate football player fighting out of Phoenix, became an instant ESPN favorite with his go-for-broke style. In his last two bouts, the 6’4, 275-pound Ibeh held unbeaten phenom Guido Vianello to a draw and bested the previously undefeated Patrick Mailata by majority decision.

In other matches streaming on ESPN+:

Former junior middleweight contender Carlos Adames (18-1, 14 KOs), from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will make his long-awaited ring return in an eight-round middleweight fight against an opponent to be named. Adames last fought in November 2019 and lost a unanimous decision to Patrick Teixeira for the interim WBO junior middleweight world title.

Lightweight prospect Eric Puente (4-0), from San Diego, will fight fellow unbeaten Sergio Vega (2-0-1, 2 KOs) in a four-rounder. Puente, who is trained by Robert Garcia, won a pair of decisions last year after more than a year away from the ring.

A pair of highly talented former U.S. amateur stars will make their professional debuts in separate four-round bouts. Troy Isley, from Alexandria, Va., is scheduled to fight Bryant Costello (1-1, 1 KO) at middleweight, while Las Vegas-born bantamweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz will fight Fernando Macias (1-1). Diaz made headlines in 2010 as a six-year-old when his flashy mitt work routine was shown on an episode of HBO’s “24/7 Mayweather-Mosley.”

Jahi Tucker (2-0, 1 KO), the 18-year-old prodigy who turned pro last September, will face Eric Rodriguez (1-1, 1 KO) in a four-round welterweight tilt.

 

[Conscious Pilot]

Commey/Marinez

 

[patscorpio]

 

[Bigblackted4]

Just because of that clip of him in construction boots and jeans working out I’m going with the other guy

 

[TheNig]

Average Joe back on the scene? Love watching him work.

 

[patscorpio]

Average Joe back on the scene? Love watching him work.

yeah lets see if he can finally win a world title next weekend

 

[Electric Ladyland]

two great cards on the same day

Smith is a good dude, i don’t think people were expecting him to reach this level

Smith will be a world champ brehs

 

[FreedMind]

two great cards on the same day

Smith is a good dude, i don’t think people were expecting him to reach this level

Smith will be a world champ brehs

I'm rooting for Smith but I'm also anticipating the MAGA heel turn down the line.



Mannix brought up the fact that 175 might have an undisputed champion in the near future.

 

[Electric Ladyland]

I'm rooting for Smith but I'm also anticipating the MAGA heel turn down the line.



Mannix brought up the fact that 175 might have an undisputed champion in the near future.

168 and 175 won’t have a choice but to unify soon imo breh

i think Smith is a good dude tbh, he started a business as soon as he made some paydays

hardworking dude, never read anything bad about him

 

[Derek Lee]

I'm rooting for Smith but I'm also anticipating the MAGA heel turn down the line.

Wouldn't surprise me. He's Italian from Long Island (which is notoriously MAGA territory).

 

[patscorpio]

Vlasov: I Know Smith Is The Bigger Puncher, I Am The Better Boxer
By Jake Donovan

Published On Sun Feb 7, 2021, 01:24 PM EST

You have to give Maxim Vlasov for knowing his place in possibly the biggest fight of his career.

The former cruiserweight title challenger from Samara, Russia understands his role as the boxer in his upcoming fight with heavy-handed contender Joe Smith Jr. The two collide on Feb. 13th, live on ESPN from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, with the vacant WBO light heavyweight title at stake.

Vlasov enters his fourth straight fight at light heavyweight, all coming since an interim cruiserweight title fight loss to Poland’s Krzyszytof Glowacki (31-2, 19KOs) in Nov. 2018. A knockout win came of his first fight back at his old weight followed by a pair of decision wins heading into his forthcoming showdown with Smith (25-3, 21KOs), revered as one of the hardest punchers in the light heavyweight division.

“Joe Smith is very strong, he’s the much bigger puncher,” Vlasov admitted to BoxingScene.com. “He’s a good fighter, he can punch very hard and is good at breaking his opponents down. He’s very physical.

“He is the bigger puncher; I am the better boxer. I know what I have to do in this fight—and I will win this fight.”

All three career defeats for Vlasov (45-3, 28KOs) have come in the United States, though not without his share of success on this side of the world. The 34-year old Russian contender is 10-3 overall in the states. His biggest wins to date have taken place in his home country, including stoppages over Rakhm Chakhkiev and Olanrewaju Durodola—fights where he dominated on the scorecards prior to closing the show—and a 12-round win over Isaac Chilemba in July 2019 to avenge his first career defeat more than eight years prior.

The common thread in all of those fights was Vlasov’s ability to soundly outbox his foes. The power is there when he needs it, though viewed as a failsafe in his title fight with Smith who has dropped or stopped seven of his last eight opponents. The lone fighter over that stretch to remain upright for the duration of their fight was unbeaten Dmitry Bivol, though whom Smith badly rocked at the end of the 10th round prior to losing a 12-round decision.

“I know he will try to make this a fight,” notes Vlasov. “I prefer to box. I know I can’t just stand in front of him and try to match his punching power. I know he’s physically stronger than me. I plan to let him know that I am the much better boxer than him.

“We will see what happens but I am confident this fight will show what I can do in the ring at this level.”

 

[reservoirdogs]

I'm rooting for Smith but I'm also anticipating the MAGA heel turn down the line.



Mannix brought up the fact that 175 might have an undisputed champion in the near future.

Dunno about that, at least I don't think they would intentionally market him as a MAGA idiot. He's with Arum, Arum is very vocal about being a democrat, like he fukking hates the other side and often voices this too, if there's a thing that's sacred to him I think this is one of them, he won't market his fighter on the basis of being a Trump fan.

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

....

 

[reservoirdogs]

Funny how Vlasov hit the same ceiling at both 168 and 200. Lost to Ramirez at 168 then Gvozdyk at 200 but he's been a solid B- level in both divisions just couldn't beat B/B+ fighters already. I think the same will be his fate at 175 and the improved Smith gonna be too much for him.