Joe Smith (27-3, 21 KOs) was originally supposed to fight Maxim Vlasov (45-4, 26 KOs) on February 13. A positive Covid test from Vlasov put that, and Smith’s dream, off until tonight.
Smith had originally planned to get married the day after the first proposed fight date, and to have a lengthy honeymoon with his new wife. The wedding happened, but the honeymoon was postponed. Smith immediately went back to the gym; he had a title fight to train for.
This shot at the vacant WBO 175-pound title was Smith’s second crack at a world title, and he would have to use every bit of resolve he had in order to win it.
It was a bit of a seesaw battle early. Round 1 saw Vlasov immediately go at Smith. To the untrained eye, his pace may have appeared frantic. However, it was exactly what he’d promised–stepping to the bully in Smith and not allowing him to build any forward momentum. He stood in a bit of a gunslinger stance: hands low, shooting punches from the waist.
The second frame started similarly for Vlasov. Smith began to catch on, however, and was landing in the middle of his opponent’s combinations with left hands and looping rights. Body shots featured occasionally in Smith’s offense, but not enough to make a difference. In the middle of Smith’s offense, Vlasov managed to cut his man over the left eye with a right hand, though it did not feature in the action. Smith won the round going away.
The third saw Smith starting strong and loosening up. Vlasov looked to have less pop initially, but Smith didn’t take advantage quickly or harshly enough. Vlasov began to back Smith up and keep him at range. At the end of the round, Smith’s back was against the ropes, with Vlasov surging. In the fourth, Vlasov picked up where he left off, backing the New Yorker up. Though Smith was able to come back with occasional single shots, it did little to sway the momentum of the round.
In the fifth, Smith reasserted his presence in the fight. Vlasov’s movements looked marginally more labored – which betrayed how hard he was working to keep his opponent at bay. He maintained a similar rhythm, but Smith caught him on the way in numerous times, and backed the Russian off towards the end of the round.
The sixth began where the fifth left off, with Smith going right at Vlasov. Through an initial rough minute, Vlasov was peppered with jabs and rights to the head, as well as hooks to the body. He made a fight of it in the final minute, but not enough of one to influence scoring.
Through six rounds, my scorecard had it even: 57-57
The seventh was the clearest won round for either fighter to that point. The rhythm and pace were much the same, with Vlasov keeping Smith at a distance with straight shots, and the American bulling his way in. During one of these exchanges, it was Vlasov who tried to press inward on Smith, and he paid the price for it. A Smith counter left hook put the Russian on wobbly legs for a split second and set the tempo for the rest of the round.
The eighth showed yet another shift in momentum when, after absorbing an early onslaught from Smith, Vlasov began to muscle a bit more in the clinch: bumping and turning his opponent to dictate the space in which the fight was fought. He had discovered that, even more effective than being outside of Smith’s power, was being inside of it. Bullying at close range can be a great tactic for fighters whose leg strength is beginning to wane.
The ninth and 10th saw Vlasov setting the scene for potentially going after a stoppage. At the very least, he looked poised to close the show with a bang. Smith’s cut left eye was bleeding and swelling even more, which only added to the urgency he had to have felt. It didn’t show up in these rounds, however, as Vlasov found a second wind, and began peppering Smith with straight shots. Smith fired back, but only with single shots, and with no great effect.
Title fights are won and lost in the championship rounds. With the number of momentum shifts so far, and with all the two fighters had given to reach the championship level, observers were right to expect anything.
Smith had looked finished just minutes earlier, but came out in the 11th with renewed purpose. He knew that this was his best shot to win a title, and pressed Vlasov with all he had left. Vlasov smartly smothered when he could, but it did fairly little to blunt Smith’s attack. Smith’s withering body attack and forceful, looping head shots were doing their job. Vlasov clinched more often, which resulted in a Smith rabbit punch that halted the action. Thankfully, no points were taken away.
In the 12th, Smith and Vlasov left every bit of themselves in the ring, but it was Smith who had far more to give. For three minutes, he didn’t stop throwing, and had Vlasov on his back foot.
It was enough to earn a draw on my scorecard: 114-114.
The judges saw it for Smith via majority decision: 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112.
A tight margin but, given how Smith closed, no one should complain. This was not a hometown (or home country) decision. Joe Smith Jr, the construction laborer and everyman from Long Island, is your new WBO Light Heavyweight champion. Anything but the “common man” which Bernard Hopkins had dubbed him before their fight in 2016.
Smith is now in line for a potential unification with unified lineal champion, Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs.)
It’s a truly massive fight that probably will happen, but Smith has every right to sit back for a little and enjoy the fruits of his labor, as well as a much-delayed honeymoon.
SMITH VS. VLASOV FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
