WBO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ON THE LINE: JOE SMITH JR. VS. MAXIM VLASOV-THE WINNER GETS A UNIFICATION BOUT W/ARTUR BETERBIEV LIVE ON ESPN/ESPN+ @ OSAGE CASINO, TULSA, OK
The WBO light heavyweight title is on the line on April 10, 2021, as Joe Smith Jr. battles Maxim Vlasov for the title. The winner most likely will advance to a unification bout with WBC/IBF champion Artur Beterbiev.
Beterbiev is fresh off a thumping defeat of Adam Dienes recently. He’s very well regarded and feared in the division.
Smith is a 31-year old veteran who has a long and impressive 16 year career. He sports a record of 26-3, 21 KOs. This is his 2nd chance to win a title, after his first chance ended in a disappointing loss.
His opponent is no slouch: Vlasov, 34, has a dynamic and devastating record of 45-3, 26 KOs. He will be fighting in his very first title fight in his long career.
This will be a WAR.
After the Beterbiev fight, the winner will be looking to fully unify the title against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol. Bivol defeated Smith in his earlier title fight back in 2019…
The fight will take place at Osage Casino in Tulsa, OK LIVE on ESPN/ESPN+ at around 10 pm EST.
Watch the Press Conference from Thursday afternoon, April 8th
