Joe Smith Jr is ready to take on #3 WBO Maxim Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs) this Saturday night on February 13th for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title in ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The start time for the telecast is at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
This will be the second time for Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) to be fighting for a world title. Two years ago, Smith was outclassed by WBA 175-lb champion Dimitry Bivol, losing a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision against the Russian fighter.
Smith’s opponent, 34-year-old Vlasov, doesn’t possess nearly the same kind of talent that Bivol, so it’s a fight that Joe has an excellent chance of winning.
However, he’s not likely to win by his customary route of victory, as Vlasov has got a rock-iron chin, and he’s been in there with bigger punchers than Smith.