What’s next for Joe Smith Jr, The Irish Beast.

August 31, 2020 Blog, boxe, Chroniques
Joe Smith Jr ( 26-3-0, 21 ko’s). Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Interview with Joe Smith Jr

By Jeff Jeffrey – Boxing Colomnist, TVA Sports

August 22, 2020 marked the domination of Joe Smith Jr ( 26-3-0, 21 ko’s) over former WBO light heavyweight champion, The Storm, Eleider Alvarez (25-2-0, 13 ko’s) in the Bubble of Las Vegas. Ironically, it was Smith who unleashed a storm of punishement throwing out another champion out of the ring, the other one was boxing legend, Bernard Hopkins. Fighting under the banner of Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, The Irish Beast is on his way to the WBO title and might be the fighter of the year with wins over Alvarez and Jesse Hart.

Smith generously agreed to speak with me about the fight and the next step in his career.

Jeff Jeffrey: Congradulations on this awesome victory over a very skilled advsersary.

Joe Smith Jr: Thank you, I appreciate it.

JJ: Before we talk about the fight, I was wondering how was the life in the Bubble of Las Vegas, days before the event?

JS: I actualy enjoyed it. It kept my mind off everything else and I just focused on the fight.

JJ: A couple of days before this big event, the trainer of Eleider Alvarez, Marc Ramsay told me that you were not a very good fighter, you had a big heart, but you were very limited. How do you respond to this comment now?

JS: I think I responded in the ring with this result.

JJ: Eleider Alvarez is a very strong fighter and a former champion with his win over Sergey Kovalev. How did you figured Alvarez’s strategy?

JS: He’s a counter-puncher. Eleider looked to land his big right hand. He did, once or twice, but not enough to keep me off of him. Double jabs was part of my strategy and I studied him very well and be being busy, I knew I would eventually overpower him.

JJ: Alvarez got you with a right hand in round seven, but you kept coming back at him right away. In this instant, he seemed discouraged. Would you agree?

JS: I agree. He tried his shot with everything he had but didn’t get me out of there. Alvarez stopped a lot of fighters with that punch.

JJ: You threw Alvarez out of the ring with stunning assault, very similar to what you did to Bernard Hopkins. That’s overly intimidating for upcoming opponents.

JS: Yes, Alvarez was my third fighter I threw out of the ring.

JJ: After this big victory over Eleider Alvarez, you are now favorite to win the WBO title in that tournement according to many experts. After this task of becoming the WBO light heavyweight champion, boxing fans would love to see you in the ring with WBC/IBF light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev. What’s your impression on this possibility?

JS: I would like that fight to happen. I believe it will be a big one that boxing fans would love to watch.

JJ: Umar Salamov and Maxim Vlasov are going to face each other in the WBO tournement for the title Saul ”Canelo” Alvarez left behind. What do you know about those two fighters?

JS: I heard a little bit about them and will watch Salamov and Vlasov closely. I hope they fight in time and we can make something happen, because I want to get that title soon. They have 120 days after my bout with Alvarez to get into the ring. I’m already back in the gym, to stay sharp for my next battle as I will face the winner.

JJ: At this moment, your former rival, Eleider Alvarez is thinking about retirement. Do you have any advice you would like to give him?

JS: I think that’s his decision alone. He’s a former world champion and accomplished a lot in his career to call it a day. He’s a though guy you know and still one of the best. I never landed shots like that on a man and have him stand in front of me for that long.

JJ: You have a tremendous year with wins over Jesse Hart and Eleider Alvarez.

JS: Yes, I’m very happy about it. I just need to get that WBO title on my shoulder. I won against some of the best.

JJ: Since you are on the waiting line until Salamov and Vlasov fights. When will you be back in the ring?

JS: Around December or January.

JJ: I watched again your championship match with WBA light heavyweight champion, Dmitry Bivol. You might have lost a couple of rounds before the tenth. But in the last second you landed your trademark right hand on the temple of Bivol and he was out cold on his feet. You had that fight won. How do you reflect on it today?

JS: 5 more seconds and I was champion of world. It just showed me that I need to work harder. Determination is the key.

JJ: You are not a full time fighter and you fought hard to earn a title position again. You used to work in construction as a member of the Laborers Local 66 and now you are in business with your father with your own tree compagny called Team Smith Tree Service. You have a strong connection with common people and boxing fans alike.

JS: That’s great. A lot of people from my hometown see me around and I get along with everybody. I’m a simple guy who aim to be a champion.

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