Joe Smith Jr. vs. Devonte Williams - March 22, 2025

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joe Smith Jnr ending long layoff with February 2025 fight at cruiserweight

Joe Smith Jnr is coming off two losses and has been out of the ring for more than a year. But the former light heavyweight titleholder has a likely date for his return.

“He’ll be back around, I think we’re putting him on February 14,” said promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing during a recent meeting of the WBO’s ratings committee at the sanctioning body’s convention in Puerto Rico.

Smith, 28-5 (22 KOs), will remain at cruiserweight, said DeGuardia, who did not name an opponent.

Smith, a 35-year-old from Long Island, spent almost the entirety of his career in or slightly above the 175-pound weight class. His biggest victories came in 2016, when he took out Andrzej Fonfara in a single round and then sent Bernard Hopkins out of the ring — and out of the sport — with an eighth-round knockout.

Then came setbacks in two of Smith’s next three appearances: decision losses to Sullivan Barrera in 2017 and titleholder Dmitry Bivol in 2019. He followed with four consecutive victories, including wins over Jesse Hart, Eleider Alvarez and Maxim Vlasov. The triumph over Vlasov earned Smith the vacant WBO world title.

Two fights later, Smith lost the belt in a June 2022 unification match with Artur Beterbiev, dropped in the first round and finished in the second. Smith came back in October 2023 as a cruiserweight and lost a wide decision to Gilberto Ramirez.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Any updates from Joe smith

[margaret thatcher]

smith's loss to zurdo looks not so bad now given that zurdo beat arsen easier and then beat up cbs pretty good

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joe Smith Jnr, Star Boxing card postponed from February 7 to March 22

Joe Smith Jnr’s next outing and the entire February 7 card has been postponed due to Smith suffering from an illness.

The event has been rescheduled for March 22 at the same venue – The Paramount NY, in Huntington, New York – and with the bill intact.

Smith, 28-5 (22 KOs), of Long Island, New York, will face Houston’s Devonte Williams, 13-1 (6 KOs), in a cruiserweight 10-rounder in the headliner of the 50th edition anniversary event of Star Boxing’s Rockin’ Fights.

“Unfortunately, Joe Smith Jnr has the flu, which has progressed to pneumonia, so we have rescheduled the date of the event,” said Joe DeGuardia, president and CEO of Star Boxing. “We wish him a full and quick recovery and look forward to his main-event fight against Devonte Williams on the rescheduled date for our Rockin’ Fights 50th Anniversary Event.”

Also featured on the card are Micky Scala facing Victor Toney in a junior middleweight eight-rounder; David Malul against Shaquille Rushing over four scheduled rounds at welterweight; Yan Carlos Perez taking on Sean Brewer in an eight-round featherweight bout; and prospects Joe Elzey and Jordy Gonzalez squaring off in a featherweight four-rounder.

All tickets purchased for the event will be honored for the new date, according to Star Boxing.

[squiggy]

Did this get called off altogether?