Light heavyweight competitors Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov will fight for the vacant WBO world title at the Top Rank Boxing Card main event on Saturday. The show takes place at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma (ESPN and ESPN +, 10:00 p.m. ET, with undercard battles on ESPN + at 5:30 p.m. ET).
Smith (26-3, 21 KOs), 31, of Mastic, New York, has won two straight bouts since losing a unanimous decision when he challenged Dmitry Bivol for the WBA light heavyweight title in March 2019. In 2020 Smith defeated Jesse Hart by separate decision and Eleider Alvarez by ninth round TKO.
The matchup between Smith and Vlasov was originally scheduled for February, but Vlasov tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight has been postponed.
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ESPN +, Sat, 5:30 p.m. ET: Joe Smith Jr. versus Maxim Vlasov undercard
ESPN, Sat., 10 p.m. ET: Joe Smith Jr. v Maxim Vlasov, 12 rounds for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title
“I was 100 percent ready to go back in February, but it’s fine. I had time to enjoy my wedding day and now I’m just ready to go again,” Smith said Thursday. “To be world champion and hearing the words ‘And new’ will be an amazing feeling. That’s all I’ve worked for since I was 15.”
Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs), 34, a former cruiserweight challenger from Russia, has been 3-0 since moving to the 175-pound division. He has wins over Omar Garcia, Isaac Chilemba and Emmanuel Martey in the year 2019. He has not fought since defeating Martey in November 2019.
Follow the directions as recaps are posted after each fight. Here you can also watch the fighting.
Fight underway: Joe Smith Jr. versus Maxim Vlasov, 12 rounds for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title
Results:
Senior scores must see NO about Howard
Efe Ajagba ended his fight with a devastating blow on Saturday night.
In the third round of a heavyweight fight against Brian Howard, Ajagba unleashed a massive right hand that Howard instantly knocked out. The bout was the co-main event of Joe Smith Jr.-Maxim Vlasov’s WBO light heavyweight title bout at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Impact statistics
| Blows | Ajagba | Howard |
|---|---|---|
| Landed overall | 29 | fifteen |
| Total thrown | 112 | 65 |
| percent | 26% | 23% |
| Jabs landed | 12th | 3 |
| Thrown bumps | 56 | 22nd |
| percent | 21% | 14% |
| The power landed | 17th | 12th |
| Power thrown | 56 | 43 |
| percent | 30% | 28% |
| – Courtesy of CompuBox | ||
The 26-year-old Nigerian, who fought out of Houston, landed his fastest knockout since stopping Michael Wallish in 2019. As soon as Ajagba (15-0, 12 KOs) landed the blow, umpire Tony Crebs considered giving Howard a 10- for a moment. counting before he immediately fell to his knees, waved his arms over his head and called for the ring doctor.
In his post-fight interview on ESPN, Ajagba said he wanted to point his right hand at the body with a left thrust. Howard (15-5, 12 KOs) stayed on screen for a few seconds before finally getting up.
The prospective prospect said he worked on fundamentals and footwork at the combat camp with trainer Kay Koroma, leading to what he called the best training camp of his professional career. That work also resulted in a performance that showed what he can do against better opposition.
“It’s my time to shine,” said Ajagba. “I come to make the heavyweights the heavyweight champions of the world.”
Anderson stops Karpency and extends the knockout winning streak
Heavy power puncher Jared Anderson (left) only took two rounds to stop Jeremiah Karpency. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
A body shot injured Jared Anderson’s opponent. The second ended him.
Impact statistics
| Blows | Ajagba | Howard |
|---|---|---|
| Landed overall | 29 | fifteen |
| Total thrown | 112 | 65 |
| percent | 26% | 23% |
| Jabs landed | 12th | 3 |
| Thrown bumps | 56 | 22nd |
| percent | 21% | 14% |
| The power landed | 17th | 12th |
| Power thrown | 56 | 43 |
| percent | 30% | 28% |
| – Courtesy of CompuBox | ||
Anderson’s walloping right hand made Jeremiah Karpency kneel in the second round and wanted no more punishment. Anderson, 21, a heavyweight expert from Toledo, Ohio, landed a nearly identical blow to knock Karpency down at the end of the first round. Anderson (9-0, 9 KOs), in no mood to stray from a good cause, used the body punch to end his night early.
“I knew he would find a place to fall. I respect him for coming in there and showing up today,” said Anderson after the fight. “It’s a men’s sport. I’m just grateful to be here, grateful for the opportunity.
“I [saw] the shot. His hands went up further. I kept throwing my thrust, looking for openings, faking myself, moving around the ring and it just came. It was a good shot and he didn’t want to get up again. “
Anderson was active trying to gain a foothold in boxing’s largest division. Seven of Anderson’s professional bouts have taken place since early 2020, including five in Top Rank’s Las Vegas bubble.
“Anyone who says they’re the biggest and the baddest comes to Big Baby,” Anderson said when asked about his next fight.
Impact statistics
| Blows | Anderson | Karpency |
|---|---|---|
| Landed overall | 24 | 5 |
| Total thrown | 50 | 24 |
| percent | 48% | 21% |
| Jabs landed | 17th | 0 |
| Thrown bumps | 39 | 6th |
| percent | 44% | 0% |
| The power landed | 7th | 5 |
| Power thrown | 11 | 18th |
| percent | 64% | 28% |
| – Courtesy of CompuBox | ||
Bell goes the distance to score a decisive victory
Albert Bell (left) prevailed against Manuel Rey Rojas in the eighth round. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
Albert Bell’s eighth round was the key to a unanimous win over Manuel Rey Rojas. The 28-year-old from Toledo, Ohio used range and distance in the final three minutes to demonstrate his dominance over Rojas, who spent the middle laps putting pressure on Bell and narrowing the distance.
According to CompuBox, Bell combined 16 of his 43 power shots in the eighth round, both of which were battle-heavy for both men.
But when Bell (18-0, 5 KOs) stayed out, Rojas (20-5, 6 KOs) was outdone. Bell’s lack of power will always be a problem in the 130 pound division, but if he can make the most of his range he can turn out opponents like he did on Saturday night.
Conceicao stops Ahumada late to remain undefeated
Lightweight junior Robson Conceicao, background, knocked out Jesus Ahumada to remain undefeated. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) used a bruise and precise punch to eventually win a seventh round TKO against Jesus Antonio Ahumada. After numerous rounds of one-way punishment, Conceicao finally stopped a very playful Ahumada with a nice combo.
The 32-year-old from Brazil feinted with a few disposable nudges before hooking a straight right hook to the body and a left hook to the head, the final blow sending Conceiao to the bloodied canvas.
Ahumada (17-4, 12 KOs) suffered a massive blow. Blood flowed from early cuts throughout the fight. The referee asked the ring doctor to evaluate Ahumada after the sixth round. Ahumada of Mexico wanted to continue after the knockdown in the seventh, but the referee waved it off after Ahumada’s legs wobbled after the 10-count.
Morrison wins when Bergman is injured
Heavyweight Trey Lippe Morrison, left, defeated Jason Bergman by TKO in the third round. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
Trey Lippe Morrison (17-0, 17 KOs) won a very strange fight when Jason Bergman was unable to continue after a right leg injury in the third round.
Bergman (27-20-2, 18 KOs), 36, had moments of success throughout the evening against Morrison, who fought in his hometown of Tulsa. All positive impulses stopped immediately when Bergman appeared to injure his right ankle after missing a blow. Bergman immediately went down and the fight stopped. He couldn’t put any weight on his leg when he got up.
It wasn’t the only unfortunate break for the Adah, Pennsylvania fighter.
In the first round, Bergman was outraged after he appeared to have knocked the 31-year-old Morrison off the ropes with a short left hook. The referee decided it was a push and Bergman spent the next few seconds aggressively asking why it wasn’t a knockdown. At one point, Bergman pulled his gloves over the umpire’s torso, but Bergman was not reprimanded as he was told to continue the fight.
Ragan shows Clark and drives to victory
Featherweight Duke Ragan (left) dominated Charles Clark in six rounds and won a unanimous decision. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
Cincinnati’s Duke Ragan (4-0, 1 KO) had a unique test in his short professional career against Charles Clark before he won a unanimous decision. Clark (3-7-1, 1 KO) clearly did not have the same skills as Ragan and tried to tighten Ragan during his six round bout.
But the 23-year-old prospect was not unsettled. Using a wide arsenal, Ragan showed his speed and precision, not dropping a single point on any of the three scorecards (60-54, 60-54 and 60-54). Although Ragan never knocked Clark down or even appeared to hurt him, he made the most of an opponent who gave Ragan limited opportunities for big punches.
Milton demolished Dafney
Jeremiah Milton, left, keeps Jayvone Dafney on his feet in the first round of her heavyweight bout. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
Jeremiah Milton impressed his hometown Tulsa fans with a devastating one-punch knockout in the first round of a four-round match against Jayvone Dafney. It was a result made up of the opening bell.
Dafney (2-3, 2 KOs), 33, of McComb, Mississippi, had the nifty technique of someone in a viral video of a street fight who struck the chin in the air against Milton, who kept one more traditional approach.
It paid off for Milton (3-0, 3 KOs), 26, of Tulsa when he landed a thud that knocked Dafney out and what appeared to be his back frozen against the ropes. Milton showed incredible reluctance to pursue no blow before the umpire finally saw Dafney on his feet and stopped the fight at 1:19 of the round.
Conto stops Cortes on lap 1
Heavyweight Sonny Conto stopped Waldo Cortes in round 1 with a brutal right hand on his chin. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images
Heavyweight Sonny Conto wasn’t in the ring for long. He knocked out Waldo Cortes in the first round of a four round fight. But Conto’s craftsmanship is something boxing purists will love.
Conto (7-0, 6 KOs), 25, from Philadelphia, often landed a powerful push. He tripled it at one point when Cortes (6-4, 3 KOs), 29, of Phoenix, was constantly being made nervous by the lead on the left. That push set up the large, straight right hand that covered Cortes and forced the referee to end the fight at 1:41 minutes.
Conto has won his last three fights in the first round and has done a total of 6:49 minutes of combat since October 2019.
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