In his second outing at 175lbs, Jesse Hart will be facing Long Island puncher Joe Smith Junior in what should surely be an explosive encounter at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey this Saturday night.
‘Hard-Work’ is coming off a successful June debut against Sullivan Barrera, registering a resounding unanimous decision victory against the former WBA title challenger from Cuba.
Hart’s move up to 175lbs was preceded by an extended period campaigning as a super-middleweight, including two unsuccessful title challenges against undefeated then-WBO titlist at 168lbs, Gilberto Ramirez.
Like his Philadelphian counterpart, ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez has also moved north a division; therefore Hart will be hoping that an impressive display against Smith Jr stakes his claim for a trilogy showdown with Ramirez, potentially for the 175lbs version of the WBO title most recently vacated by Canelo Alvarez.
However, he absolutely cannot afford to switch off for a second against Smith Junior – such is the sheer punching power the New Yorker possesses – and must navigate through the early danger posed by his counterpart and win in style in order to be taken seriously as a legitimate contender in an exciting division.
Ultimately, we can expect Hart’s superior athleticism and skill to see him through this contest – despite the fact that Smith will remain a constant menace throughout the fight with his heavy-hands and toughness – as the Pennsylvanian wins convincingly and widely on all three scorecards.
Preview by: Navi Singh
Follow Navi on Twitter at: @DarkMan________