BoxRec

Don’t really agree with the decision, but I can see it. Hats off to Vlasov on a great performance. Dude has a great chin.

What a bad dec. I expected Smith to win, but he clearly lost. Vlasov controled the majority of the fight. Yes, he blew the ending, but that wasn't enough for Smith. I had it 116-112 for Vlasov.

DrDuke wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 15:06 What a bad dec. I expected Smith to win, but he clearly lost. Vlasov controled the majority of the fight. Yes, he blew the ending, but that wasn't enough for Smith. I had it 116-112 for Vlasov.

that. another premeditated decision for the guy who 'business' wanted to win.

let's call it what it is: a fornicating robbery on the lesser 'sellable' guy who deservedly should've gotten the W.

smith should give him an immediate rematch.

i doubt he has very much say in it but it would be the right thing to do given he himself takes pride in coming up the 'hard way'. frikkin vlasov didn't have it any easier.

unless the wbo orders an immediate rematch, i am pretty sure smith will fight salamov next, who just got signed by top rank. its someone smith will beat much easier and then wipe the vlasov fight from some people'es memories.

vlasov defo deserves another shot, though you wonder if he'd ever get a decision over smith, not sure vlasov can box better than he did

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 16:58 unless the wbo orders an immediate rematch, i am pretty sure smith will fight salamov next, who just got signed by top rank. its someone smith will beat much easier and then wipe the vlasov fight from some people'es memories.

vlasov defo deserves another shot, though you wonder if he'd ever get a decision over smith, not sure vlasov can box better than he did

You think Smith beats Beterbiev?

Smith may have gotten a gift decision although I didn't keep score, my gut says Vlasov won more rounds, on other hand and this is open to interpretation if punch that knock down Vaslov was legal then referee most likely saved Vaslov from KO.

All said a draw probably just decision but that being said, wasn't that big a rip off close fight, home country guy won and who do you want to see more Beiterbiev vs Vslaov or Smith, Me I want to see Beterbiev fight smith...

scores be damned it was a really good fight..to the end..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 17:08

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 16:58 unless the wbo orders an immediate rematch, i am pretty sure smith will fight salamov next, who just got signed by top rank. its someone smith will beat much easier and then wipe the vlasov fight from some people'es memories.

vlasov defo deserves another shot, though you wonder if he'd ever get a decision over smith, not sure vlasov can box better than he did

You think Smith beats Beterbiev?

not off that performance, but on the other hand beterbiev is not going to be herky-jerky moving like vlasov was, he'll be right there

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 06:06

even accounting for smith's big last 2 rounds, no way did i see him outlanding vlasov

he landed harder shots and rocked vlas in at least 4 rounds, but defo didnt see him landing more

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 17:33

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 06:06

even accounting for smith's big last 2 rounds, no way did i see him outlanding vlasov

he landed harder shots and rocked vlas in at least 4 rounds, but defo didnt see him landing more

A few have said the CompuBox doesn’t add up.

115-113 vlasov

victor-romeo wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 17:26 this is open to interpretation if punch that knock down Vaslov was legal then referee most likely saved Vaslov from KO

The punch was to the back of the head, which was seen well on the replay. And that wasn't the only rabbit punch by Smith in this fight.

DrDuke wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021, 01:36

victor-romeo wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 17:26 this is open to interpretation if punch that knock down Vaslov was legal then referee most likely saved Vaslov from KO

The punch was to the back of the head, which was seen well on the replay. And that wasn't the only rabbit punch by Smith in this fight.

The thing is, if you duck into a rabbit punch, is it a rabbit punch? Seriously though what are the rules?

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021, 09:14

DrDuke wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021, 01:36

victor-romeo wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 17:26 this is open to interpretation if punch that knock down Vaslov was legal then referee most likely saved Vaslov from KO

The punch was to the back of the head, which was seen well on the replay. And that wasn't the only rabbit punch by Smith in this fight.

The thing is, if you duck into a rabbit punch, is it a rabbit punch? Seriously though what are the rules?

He didn't duck.

DrDuke wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021, 09:26

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021, 09:14

DrDuke wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021, 01:36

The punch was to the back of the head, which was seen well on the replay. And that wasn't the only rabbit punch by Smith in this fight.

The thing is, if you duck into a rabbit punch, is it a rabbit punch? Seriously though what are the rules?

He didn't duck.

Anyone got a vid of the punch?

Judging The Judges: Smith-Vlasov Scorecard Analysis

A late round surge by Joe Smith Jr. proved to be the difference in an otherwise dead even fight.

The bruising light heavyweight from the Mastic Beach section of Long Island, New York claimed the vacant WBO 175-pound title following a 12-round majority decision win over Russia’s Maxim Vlasov. The fight was even on two of the three scorecards through ten rounds, with Smith sweeping the championship rounds to win his first major title Saturday evening in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In what many acknowledged as a terrific action fight with several potential swing rounds, the three judges—David Sutherland (Oklahoma), Gerald Ritter (Oklahoma) and Pat Russell (California)—agreed on nine of the 12 rounds.

All three ringside officials had Vlasov winning the opening round as well as rounds 6, 9 and 10. Smith managed to sweep rounds 4, 7, 8, 11 and 12, the latter two providing the margin of victory on the cards of Russell (115-113) and Ritter (115-112).

Judge Sutherland scored the contest 114-114, having Vlasov ahead 96-94 before awarding Smith’s dominant home stretch to have him pull even in their ESPN-televised event.

Minor controversy prevailed in round 11, when Smith floored Vlasov with a right hand to the back of his opponent’s skull. Referee Gary Ritter warned Smith for the infraction while waving off the sequence as a slip. Overall, Smith outlanded Vlasov 27-12 in the frame, promoting judge Gerald Ritter (Gary’s twin brother) to score the round 10-8 in favor of the 31-year-old New Yorker. The viewpoint was shared by a grand total of nobody; worse, it took the fight off of the table for Vlasov, who trailed by two points with one round to go as a result.

In terms of awarding round for one fighter of the other, judges Ritter and Sutherland agreed on all except for round three—Sutherland in favor of Vlasov while Ritter awarded the round to Smith.

Ritter and Russell were in agreement on 10 of the 12 rounds, disagreeing in the 2nd and 5th frames. Russell was the lone wolf in both rounds, awarding Vlasov round two and round five for Smith while Sutherland and Ritter went the other way in both of those frames.

Sutherland and Russell disagreed on all three rounds—2, 3 and 5—that weren’t unanimous. Sutherland was alone in his scoring of round three, awarding Vlasov a frame in which momentum seemed to shift in favor of Smith.

Vlasov was ahead or even on Sutherland’s scorecard all the way through round ten. Conversely, the 34-year-old from Samara, Russia never led at any point in the fight on Ritter’s card pulling even in rounds two, six and ten but otherwise trailing throughout the rest of the entertaining fight.

Smith-Vlasov ESPN Main Event Averaged 506,000 Viewers, Peaked At 541,000


Nielsen Media Research released statistics Tuesday that indicated an average of 506,000 viewers watched Smith’s 12-round, majority-decision win versus Vlasov in a WBO light heavyweight title fight on ESPN. Viewership peaked at 541,000 toward the end of ESPN’s main event from Osage Casino Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

ESPN’s entire one-hour, 51-minute broadcast drew an average of 436,000 viewers. The opener of the network’s two-bout broadcast – heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba’s spectacular, one-punch, third-round knockout of Brian Howard – attracted an average audience of 323,000.

Vlasov's Handlers File Protest Over Loss To Joe Smith: Complaint Over Officials, Drug Testing

The handlers for Maxim Vlasov (45-4, 26 KOs) have filed a protest with the World Boxing Organization over the officiating for this past Saturday's fight in Tulsa, where the Russian boxer lost a twelve round majority decision to Joe Smith (27-3, 21 KOs).

Based on scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112 - Smith walked away with the vacant WBO light heavyweight title.

The contest was very close, with Smith pulling out a win in the final two rounds.

“This was a very hard-fought, competitive fight," Vlasov said in the aftermath. "I thought I was winning rounds and was well ahead. Against the aggressive style of Joe Smith, I came forward the entire fight. I felt confident I was winning and was securing rounds in the bank with the judges. I never felt that I was behind at any stage of the fight. This was my opportunity to show the world I was a world champion, and I did that, and Joe Smith knows I did that.”

According to Vlasov's manager, Oleg Bogdanov, a protest has been filed with the WBO - regarding the officiating and the lack of drug testing. They want an immediate rematch to be ordered.

“We filed a protest with the WBO, we do not agree with the decision of the judges," said Bogdanov to Tass.

"We consider [the officiating] biased, we believe that the qualifications of the judges do not correspond to the level of this fight. We also indicated that there was no proper doping control protocol. Maxim did not take a test at all.

"We don't think the outcome will be voided, but we're insisting on a rematch because of the violations committed."

Joe Smith looked a little fortunate to get the win, but am glad he's got a world title. Not too impressed by the referee all night.
Maksim Vlasov was a little unlucky, he might have just edged the bout in a close one and a draw would have been a more fair result. He would deserve a rematch. Not sure the Russian can box any better in a rematch, but I think Smith can improve next time.

Just researched the fight on allegedly. Rounds 7/11/12 were clear for Smith. 1/9/10 were clear for Vlasov. I edged Smith in 2/5/8 and Vlasov in 3/4/6. I think Smith's 5/8 and Vlasov's 3/4 were all close enough where I can see it going in any direction, depending on what you liked better from the fighters

So after the rewatch, anything from a draw to 115-113 either way seems pretty logical IMO. I guess people have different ideas what they consider a "robbery", but this in no way was that.

not read anyones comments yet personally,i think it could of been called all 3 decisions , but i think joe deverserd the win, think it wasnt a great joe performance more like what we had seen in his bivol fight maybe nervers or he took a big shot in the first , but think rds 2 and 3 joe came back well nearly stopped vla few mid were close vald had vad very good think 7 n 8 joe looked tired but then came back in the championship rds won them i think vla lost it in 11 n 12 , it was close joe rushed a lot of his work when he had vla wobbling problay should of got the ko so glad he won ,my most favourite win since fury wilder