Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. on December 17

Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. on December 17

A boxing legend will look to add an exclamation point to end his professional career with the same style, speed and slickness that has defined him in the ring for nearly three decades, as 51-year-old, two-division former world champion and Future Hall of Hamer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) prepares to square off against hard-hitting Light Heavyweight contender Joe Smith, Jr. (21-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round fight from Los Angeles’ iconic Fabulous Forum. The bout will take place Saturday, December 17 and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

Tickets for the fight – named, “The Final One” — will go on sale Monday, October 24th at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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Bernard Hopkins likely to face Joe Smith Jnr in Farewell fight, Dec 17th

Bernard Hopkins likely to face Joe Smith Jnr in Farewell fight, Dec 17th

Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins (a real legend in an age when the word is over used) will look to exit the sport he helped make great, on December 17th, and, in typical Hopkins style, B-Hop will not face a soft or easy opponent in his swansong. According to the always reliable Michael Woods of NYFights.com, the amazing 51-year-old (Hopkins will turn 52 in January) will face dangerous puncher Joe Smith Jnr just over a week before Christmas Day.

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Fonfara was “Stuck in the Middle With You”

Fonfara was "Stuck in the Middle With You"

By now you know light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara was annihilated in the first round this past Saturday night. Fonfara was being showcased on NBC by Premier Boxing Champions at UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois. Chicago is Fonfara’s stomping ground, and the largely Polish crowd looked forward to an impressive win by their hero. After all, Fonfara was a top World Title contender, and “Who was this Joe Smith, Jr. guy”? Fonfara, the heavy favorite, was expected to do a little Polka as he danced through the gaps in Smith’s defense.

The “Irish Bomber” with a record of 21-1-0 with 17KOs seemed impressive on paper, but really who had he beat? Five years ago he suffered a TKO loss to Eddie Caminero, whose current record is 7-9-0, 7KOs. To make matters worse, Caminero has been kayo’d seven times. What does that say about the power of this Irish lad from Long Island, N.Y? The announcers let fans know Smith’s real job was in construction with Union #66. Polish fans expected an exciting, but short night with a Chicago Honky or Push to follow.

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Joe Smith Jr. TKOs Andrzej Fonfara in round one

Joe Smith Jr. TKOs Andrzej Fonfara in round one

6/19/16, Chicago- The light heavyweight division has a new face, and his name is Joe Smith, Jr. In one of boxing’s shockers of the year, Star Boxing’s Long Island knockout artist known as “The Irish Bomber” (22-1, 18 KOs) stunned the heavily-favored power-puncher Andrzej Fonfara (28-4, 16 KOs) with a first round TKO in the scheduled 10-round light heavyweight main event on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC on Saturday night (June 18) at UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

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Joe Smith Jr. beats Andrzej Fonfara

YouTube video

In one of the year’s shockers, Star Boxing‎‎’s Long Island knockout artist Joe “The Irish Bomber” Smith Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) stunned heavily-favored power-puncher Andrzej Fonfara (28-4, 16 KOs) with a first round TKO in the scheduled 10-round light heavyweight main event on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC tonight at UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

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Smith Jr. destroys Fonfara; Lubin defeats Sandoval; Warren beats Payano

Smith Jr. destroys Fonfara; Lubin defeats Sandoval; Warren beats Payano

Hard punching light heavyweight Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 17 KOs) pulled off a big upset tonight in defeating former world title challenger WBC #2, WBA #3, WBO #4 Andrzej Fonfara (28-4, 16 KOs) in halting him in round one tonight in front of his own fans at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.

Smith timed Fonfara with a right hand and put him down hard. When he got back up, Smith finished him off with a series of hard right hands to that head. The referee stopped it at 2:32 of the round. Fonfara never even had a chance to get warmed up properly. It was over that quickly.

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Fonfara vs Joe Smith Jr: The Polish Prince returns on NBC in Primetime

Fonfara vs Joe Smith Jr: The Polish Prince returns on NBC in Primetime

Andrzej Fonfara faces an unknown foe Joe Smith Jr., in a 10 rounds light heavyweight bout in the main event on primetime NBC. The co-feature offers up a rematch from a razor-close fight last August between Juan Carlos Payano and Rau’shee Warren. Fonfara vs. Smith Jr. could be good TV bout but Haymon could have matched Fonfara with a more recognizable name. This would have given the event a fighting chance in a wave of critics that always point toward the PBC. The card will take place in Chicago, Illinois, at the UIC Pavilion.

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Fonfara-Smith Jr. & Payano-Warren quotes

Fonfara-Smith Jr. & Payano-Warren quotes

CHICAGO (June 16, 2016) – Light heavyweights star Andrzej Fonfara and hard-hitting Joe Smith Jr. went face-to-face for the first time Thursday at the final press conference before they enter the ring Saturday, June 18 on Premier Boxing Champions on NBC from UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

Televised coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT and features a world title rematch between Juan Carlos Payano and Rau’shee Warren plus rising star Erickson Lubin battles Mexico’s Daniel Sandoval. PBC coverage switched to NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT and will see unbeaten middleweights Hugo Centeno Jr. and Maciej Sulecki square-off.

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Joe Smith Jr. Looking to Score Door Opening Upset vs Andrzej Fonfara June 18th

Joe Smith Jr. Looking to Score Door Opening Upset vs Andrzej Fonfara June 18th

By Phil Kane: (June 8th) When fighters, fight doors open, and that’s what they have done for Mastic, Long Island light heavyweight Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr.

Not only have doors been cracked, they have blown wide open. The power punching Smith in the biggest bout of his young career, a true career altering fight is set to take on take on former WBC World Light Heavyweight title challenger Andrzej Fonfara, June 18th, for his WBC International Light Heavyweight title in his first nationally broadcast event coming in the main event of a Leon Margules Warriors Boxing / Star Boxing co-promoted Premiere Boxing Champions on NBC card LIVE from the UIC Pavilion in the champions hometown of Chicago.

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The “Irish Bomber” Joe Smith Jr. Heads Rockin Fights 20

The "Irish Bomber" Joe Smith Jr. Heads Rockin Fights 20

September 11th at The Paramount in Huntington, NY!

After seeing the widely broadcast video of a Irish boxer tourist, Mohammed Fadel Dobbous taking on a Turkish crowd last week (see below) I couldn’t help but think of Joe “The Irish Bomber” Smith Jr.

Watching the video and seeing the man described as a tourist / Irish professional boxer deck one of the attacking mob with a single shot, Smith’s natural punching power quickly came to mind.

Smith, 25 years old from Mastic, Shirley Long Island, is a talented professional boxer who comes from a impressive amateur career, including two New York Gold Glove and four New York Metro titles. Smith who carries the moniker “The Irish Bomber” because of his raw punching power is 18-1, 15Ko’s as a pro . Thats a 80% KO ratio higher than that of greats like Marvin Hagler and Stanley Ketchel .

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