Smith Jr/Geffrard today.

[diehard]

Unfortunately, NOTHING on SKY or DAZN.  Damn.  What's wrong with these people?  I think UFC is taking its place on ESPN.

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/joe-smith-jr-vs-steve-geffrard-live-action-results-from-verona-new-york/210582

[diehard]

Results from Verona, NY

By Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

Despite looking like he’s doing everything wrong- fight with hands down, mouth open, welterweight Jahi Tucker smoothly dissected opponent Akeem Black with a knockdown at the end of the first and a beating along the ropes in round two, time 1:18 of the second round. Black, despite looking somewhat skilled, had no answers for the uppercuts and lightning combinations of Tucker, who moves to 6-0, 4 KOs. Black slides to a hard-luck 6-5, 2 KOs.

2020 US Olympian Troy Isley wasted no time teeing off on opponent Harry Keenan Cruz Cubano, cutting his right eye and bloodying his nose in the process. To his credit, Cruz Cubano would try and maul Isley, who opted for counter uppercuts along the ropes, scoring at will. Cruz Cubano continued to make things ugly as he pressed and mauled his way in, while Isley continued to be economical with his output. Isley received a stern warning from referee Benjy Esteves for repeated low blows. In the 8th, Isley, punished a bloody and batter Cruz Cubano, but when he missed, Cruz Cubano mocked Isley with, “You missed Bitch!” Scores were as follows: 59-53 and 59-54 twice all for Isley, now 4-0, 2 KOs. The tough-as-nails Cruz Cubano falls to 6-3, 2 KOs.

Ukrainian native cruiserweight Lyubomyr Pinchuk took on Jose Mario Flores of Washington, D.C. to open up Top Rank’s first show of 2022 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY, in a scheduled 8 rounder. After a feeling out first round, Pinchuck suffered a cut to the left eye, ruled an accidental head butt by referee Charlie Fitch. Still, Flores landed a couple hard rights to try and further the damage. Pinchuck appeared to have Flores in trouble in the 5th, but couldn’t finish his foe. After getting tagged with a hard left in the 7th, Flores whispered to his foe, “Good shot man!” An exhausted Flores caught two breathers in the 8th when he twice lost his mouthpiece. Final tallies were 80-72 and 79-73 twice for Pinchuck, who moves to 14-2-1, 8 KOs and retains his NABA Gold cruiserweight title. Flores drops to 8-3-2, 4 KOs.

[diehard]

Undercard Results from Verona, NY

By Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

Unbeaten WBO #3, IBF #11 featherweight contender Abraham Nova (21-0, 15 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over late sub William “El Gago” Encarnacion (19-2, 15 KOs) on Saturday night in the Smith-Geffrard co-feature at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Nova methodically broke down the very game Encarnacion and Encarnacion’s corner finally stopped the fight. Time was :55.

Top Rank’s latest Puerto Rican standout Omar Rosario took on Brooklyn’s southpaw Raekwon Butler on a scheduled 6 round Super Lightweight attraction on the last fight of the ESPN+ portion of the Joe Smith, Jr. vs Steve Geffrard WBO Light Heavyweight title bout. Rosario took a few moments to analyze Butler, then went to work, breaking him down with vicious shots to head and body. Butler survived to actually land some of his own shots in the second. Rounds 3,4 and 5 saw things slow down, get more technical and allow Butler to gain in confidence. Rosario chose to counter while Butler tried to force the action, albeit crudely. Butler chose to mug and pose in the 6th, perhaps to frustrate Rosario, to no avail. Final scores were 58-55, 59-54 twice for Rosario, now 6-0, 2 KOs, whole Butler falls to 4-2, 2 KOs.

[diehard]

Smith stops Geffrard, retains WBO light heavy title

WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr (28-3, 22 KOs) scored a ninth round KO over late sub Steve Geffrard (18-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Smith had trouble getting through Geffrard’s high guard early on, but he was also far busier. Smith started connecting with his right hand in round three and began teeing off the defensive-minded Geffrard in round four. Smith had Geffrard hurt in round five. Geffrard seemingly went into survival mode after that. Smith battered Geffrard to the canvas in round nine to end it. Time was :37.

“He really brought it today,” said Smith afterward. “It was a great fight. As you can see, he’s a great boxer, a good survivor. I was trying to get him out of there early, but I realized he was very tough and I wasn’t going to be able to do that. I tried to wait until the later rounds and started throwing more combinations to pick him apart.”