WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr makes the first defense of his title against Callum Johnson at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York on Saturday, June 15. The scheduled for twelve rounds world championship bout headlines the Top Rank boxing fight card live on ESPN and live stream on ESPN+ in the US. Smith was supposed to defend his belt in October in New York City, but a COVID-19 diagnosis delayed his return to 2022.
In the co-feature Abraham Nova, who hails from Albany, NY takes on Mexican action star Jose Enrique Vivas in a ten-rounder at featherweight. The main card live stream on ESPN+ starts at 9:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm PT.
Smith Jr vs Johnson tickets
Smith Jr vs Johnson tickets to witness all the action at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Saturday June 15 go on sale Friday December 3 at 10 am ET. Tickets priced from $49 to $89 can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office, charge by phone by calling 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster (as per announcement sent out by Top Rank).
“Joe Smith Jr. always delivers, and he is in against a tough customer in Callum Johnson. This is a can’t-miss main event to kick off our 2022 Top Rank on ESPN schedule,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Vivas is the ultimate test for a young, undefeated contender like Nova. Like our main event, you’re going to witness a tremendous battle.”
Smith (27-3, 21 KOs) retired the legendary Bernard Hopkins with a storybook knockout in 2015, but it took him nearly six years to capture a world title. He fell short in his first attempt versus Dmitry Bivol in 2019, but in 2020, big-fight opportunities knocked. Smith battered Jesse Hart over 10 rounds in January and then knocked out former world champion Eleider Alvarez through the ropes in August.
Nearly eight months after the Alvarez triumph, he edged Maxim Vlasov by majority decision to earn the vacant WBO world title. He became the fourth Long Island-born boxing world champion, joining Buddy McGirt, Chris Algieri, and former WBO junior lightweight world champion Jamel Herring. After a full recovery, Smith returned to training intent on staking his claim as the world’s preeminent 175-pounder.
Smith said, “I am glad to be getting back into the ring as quickly as I am to defend my WBO world championship after having COVID. It is not the fight the fans or I expected, but this will be an explosive fight between two huge punchers. I look forward to facing Johnson and defending my belt in front of my fans, as well as putting on a great show for the ones watching at home.”
“Joe Smith Jr. is always exciting to watch, but this fight could top them all. This is ‘must-see TV’ and a perfect fight to launch ESPN’s 2022 boxing season,” said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing. “We are looking forward to Joe defending his WBO world title against Callum Johnson. With two of the hardest punchers in boxing fighting each other, it doesn’t get more explosive than this. Don’t miss this fight, and don’t blink!”
Johnson (20-1, 14 KOs) is a former British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion riding a three-fight winning streak since a 2018 knockout loss to current WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev. Johnson knocked Beterbiev down in the second round, but Beterbiev rebounded and knocked out Johnson in the fourth. Johnson, from Boston, England, shared the same bill with Smith at Turning Stone Resort Casino in March 2019. Johnson knocked out Sean Monaghan in three rounds, while Smith lost a decision to Bivol in a bid for the WBA light heavyweight title.
Johnson said, “Joe is a good world champion, and we’re both big punchers. I’m looking forward to it as much as I’m sure he will be. I also would like to thank Frank Warren and the team at Queensberry, who said they would deliver me a world title shot. They’ve done their job, and now it’s time for me to do my job in the ring and become the new WBO light heavyweight champion.”
“I’m delighted to deliver this opportunity for Callum,” said Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren. “When he came with us, he said he wanted to get active again and become a world champion. Callum has his chance now to realize his dream, and if he fights like I know he can, there is no reason why Britain won’t crown a new world champion on January 15.”
Abraham Nova faces Jose Enrique Vivas in co-feature
Nova (20-0, 14 KOs), world-ranked at junior lightweight, is now campaigning at featherweight. In June 2020, he turned away Avery Sparrow by unanimous decision, but in training camp for his next fight, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Nova was out of action more than a year and returned in August with an eight-round decision over Filipino veteran Richard Pumicpic.
Vivas (21-1, 11 KOs) is a classic Mexican pressure fighter, a 27-year-old native of Texcoco who has won four in a row since a decision defeat to Ruben Villa. In October 2020, he needed only 76 seconds to knock out John Vincent Moralde. He returned in May and rose from a pair of third-round knockdowns to edge Louie Coria by unanimous decision.
Smith Jr vs Johnson undercard
Smith Jr vs Johnson undercard, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+, will see the long-awaited professional return of Cincinnati-born featherweight Duke Ragan (4-0, 1 KO), who captured a silver medal for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics. Long Island-born welterweight sensation Jahi Tucker (5-0, 2 KOs), Puerto Rican junior welterweight Omar Rosario (5-0, 2 KOs) and rising junior welterweight Kasir Goldston (4-0, 1 KOs), are scheduled to appear in separate six-round bouts.
The current Smith Jr vs Johnson fight card can be found below. The finalized lineup is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Smith Jr vs Johnson fight card
Main Card
- Joe Smith Jr vs. Callum Johnson, 12 rounds, light heavyweight – Smith Jr’s WBO light heavyweight title
- Abraham Nova vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, 10 rounds, featherweight
Undercard
- Duke Ragan vs. TBA, 6 rounds, featherweight
- Jahi Tucker vs. TBA, 6 rounds, welterweight
- Omar Rosario vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior welterweight
- Kasir Goldston vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior welterweight
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