Summary: UPSET: Smith demolishes Fonfara in one (PBC ON NBC CBS Fox…who Knows anymore!!) By Craig Wick and Jesse Wright at ringside Photos: Leonard Wilson Jr. & Nabeel Ahmad/Premier Boxing Champions In a Windy City shocker, little-known light heavyweight Joe Smith Jr. came into the lion's den and flattened WBC #2, WBA #3, WBO #4 rated Andrzej "The Polish Prince" Fonfara at 2:32 of the first round on Saturday night at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. Fonfara, who drops to 28-4, 16 KOs, just landed his best combination of the fight when "The Irish Bomber" suddenly dropped him hard in ring center courtesy of a monstrous overhand right. Fonfara gamely rose, but crashed into the ropes on unsteady legs. The fight was allowed to continue, but several pinpoint combinations to the head left Fonfara in a heap in his respective corner, unable to rise. With the spectacular win, Smith Jr., out of Brookhaven, NY, improves to 22-1, 17 KOs. Joe Smith Jr: "There's no feeling like this. I'm happy to take this victory back home to New York to all my fans. I'll talk to my promoter but I'm hoping for another big fight to get myself to a world title. Now everybody knows who I am. This is the best thing that could have happened. Once I started hitting him and pushing him back he fell away and left himself open for the right hand. I thought this would be more of a fight, but I took him out early and it feels great. He was punching and I knew he leaves himself open. I was just looking for the punch and it landed." Andrzej Fonfara: "He is a heavy puncher. He hit me with a great punch. It happens. I threw some good punches, but I got too comfortable. I didn't see the punch coming. That made it a great punch. I'm disappointed because I thought I would win the fight but it is boxing. I will rest and get back in the ring. I'll get back to work." News Of The Week Cuellar vs. Mares cancelled DiBella Entertainment Statement: Regrettably, due to a medical issue that renders former three-division world champion Abner Mares presently unable to fight in New York State, the Cuellar vs. Mares fight has been cancelled and will be replaced on the Showtime Championship Boxing on CBS telecast next Saturday, June 25. Abner's condition is in no way life-threatening, nor was it revealed in a blood or urine test; there was no use of any drugs, including PEDs or other banned substances. In honoring Abner's right to medical confidentiality, no further information will be released on this situation unless he chooses. An announcement will be forthcoming with respect to the replacement bout that will open the broadcast. Spence to return August 21, opponent TBA Unbeaten welterweight Errol Spence Jr. (20-0, 17 KOs) announced on Saturday night's NBC boxing broadcast that he'll be back in the ring in prime time on NBC on Sunday, August 21. No opponent was named for the IBF #2, WBO #3, WBC #5 and WBA #5 147-pound contender, but on June 8 we reported that Spence and IBF #7 Leonard Bundu(33-1-2, 12 KOs) have agreed to fight in an eliminator bout to become the new IBF mandatory welterweight challenger. Wilder a 37:1 favorite over Arreola Undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) is a massive early wagering favorite to defeat Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) on July 16 in Birmingham, Alabama. 5dimes currently lists Wilder at -3750 to retain his belt. Bettors who peg Arreola for the upset can get +1500. The fight was made official earlier this week. Promoters request November 19 for Kovalev-Ward, September 17 for Canelo return The next meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission will be held on Tuesday. The business at hand includes requests from promoters for fight dates. Main Events and Roc Nation have requested the date of November 19 to promote a boxing event to be held at the T‐Mobile Arena to be televised on pay‐per‐view. That bout is expected to be Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward. Go(continued)
