Joe Smith Jr. and Late-Sub Steve Geffrard In collision course Saturday in Verona, New York

By Carlos Costa

WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr. is set to collide against American compatriot Steve Geffrard this Saturday, Jan 15, at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York State.

Both men met for the first time during a presscon, in which they talked for the media and stood besides each other for pics.

The WBO-175 Champ Joe Smith Jr. was originally scheduled to make the 1st defend his crown against Britain’s Callum Johnson.

Pero last Thursday, UK promoter Frank Warren, who manages Johnson, disclosed the bad news that unfortunately his boxer needed to withdraw from the important world title battle for testing positive.

So then, the 31-year-old Miami-native Steve Geffrard stepped-forward, agreeing to replace Callum Johnson for this clash promoted by Top Rank live on ESPN +.

In fact, Steve accepted to this clash against Smith with only 8 days notice. How about that?
However, without a doubt, Steve Geffrard (18-2, 12 KOs) will be making a huge leap regarding quality of opponents.

Because in his career, which began in 2013, Steve has never battled a warrior of a quality like the one of Joe Smith.

Maybe that’s why Steve Geffrard has never been rated among the top-15 light heavyweights in the WBO world-rankings.

Even as of the moment of writing this report, the WBO has not officially said if Smith vs Geffrard with be for the WBO World Title.

Maybe yes, maybe no. What do you think?

What I am sure you think is that this last minute replacement, Steve, does not have much of a winning chance against the world champion Joe Smith, right?

I think so too, although boxing fight is such an amazing thing that anything can happen.

Still I plan to watch the fight on ESPN +, and may the Best Man Win!