By: Hans Themistode
WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr had hoped to test Callum Johnson’s chin and determination. With the two expected to go head-to-head in the main event at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, this Saturday night, Smith Jr was excited to show off the new wrinkles he’s added into your game.
However, with just over a week until their match, Johnson was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a positive COVID-19 test result. Refusing to be disqualified from the card, Smith Jr was elated when he discovered that competitive contender Steve Geffrard was ready, willing and able to enter in just eight days.
With Geffrard sporting a completely different style than Johnson, Smith Jr. was in trouble early on.
Known for his boxing abilities, Geffrard delivered a powerful jab and stuck outside. Whenever Smith Jr. Trying to get close, the resident of Miami, Florida, reels again with some combination of ways to keep him at bay.
Throughout Smith Jr.’s entire career, he’s been used to moving forward. This time, however, he tried to close the box. The WBO player bounced up and down with his toes and used gentle head movements to avoid his man’s constant attack. While Smith Jr was successful in making him miss, he rarely made him pay.
In the second half, Geffrard’s confidence continued to soar. He headed back to Smith Jr on multiple occasions, forcing the champion to rethink his overall game plan. With Geffrard boxing well, Smith Jr abandoned his original first-box approach and got his hands dirty in the fourth. As a result, he produced a strong inning.
The Long Island native made a huge debut during this period. He shoved his head into his man’s chest and smacked his body hard. Seemingly uncomfortable with the constant attack on his midsection, Geffrard tried to defend himself by bringing his hand down. Of course, that’s exactly what Smith Jr. was hoping. In a flash, the WBO belt holder splits his guard and lands straight on his right hand.
A few seconds later, Geffrard fell onto the rope and began to cover. While Smith Jr was unable to stop him in the frame, he continued his ferocious attack for the rest of their contest.
At one point, the dejected Geffrard revealed to his head coach Kevin Cunningham that something was wrong with his left shoulder. Cunningham immediately ignored Geffrard’s words and urged him to give it all he had to fulfill his world title dream.
Trying his best, Geffrard simply had nothing left in the tank as Smith Jr mercilessly watched him. In the ninth round, evidently with his legs unsteady, Geffrard dropped to his knees as he was overwhelmed by a barrage of punches.
Although Geffrard couldn’t seem to beat the count, Cunningham intervened to halt their contest, officially awarding Smith Jr the knockout victory and allowing him to complete his first WBO crown defense. me.
