Joe Smith Jr.-Maxim Vlasov live results and analysis
- ESPN Staff Writer
- Previously a college football writer for The Dallas Morning News
- University of North Texas graduate
Light heavyweight contenders Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov will fight in the main event of Saturday’s Top Rank Boxing card with the vacant WBO world title on the line. The show takes place at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma (ESPN and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET, with undercard fights on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET).
Smith (26-3, 21 KOs), 31, of Mastic, New York, has won two consecutive fights 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 split decision, and Eleider Alvarez by ninth-round TKO.
The Smith-Vlasov matchup was originally scheduled for February, but Vlasov tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was postponed.
“I was 100 percent ready to go back in February, but it’s OK. I had time to enjoy my wedding day and now I’m just ready to go once again,” Smith said Thursday. “Becoming world champion and hearing the words, ‘And new!’ it’s going to be an amazing feeling. This is everything I have been working for since I was 15 years old.”
Russia’s Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs), 34, a former cruiserweight title challenger, is 3-0 since moving down to the 175-pound division. He has victories over Omar Garcia, Isaac Chilemba and Emmanuel Martey, all in 2019. He hasn’t fought since defeating Martey in November 2019.
In the co-main event, heavyweight power puncher Efe Ajagba (14-0, 11 KOs) takes on 40-year-old Brian Howard (15-4, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Also on the card, heavyweight sensation Jared Anderson (8-0, 8 KOs) faces Jeremiah Karpency (16-2-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round fight.
Follow along as recaps will be posted after each fight. You can also watch the fights here.
Fight in progress: Robson Conceicao vs. Jesus Antonio Ahumada, 8 rounds, junior lightweights
Results:
Morrison wins when Bergman retires with injury
Trey Lippe Morrison (17-0, 17 KOs) won a very strange fight when Jason Bergman couldn’t continue after suffering 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 was fighting in Tulsa, his hometown. All positive momentum immediately halted when Bergman appeared to injure his right ankle after he missed on a punch. Bergman immediately went down and the fight was stopped. He was unable to put any weight on the leg when he got up.
That wasn’t the only unfortunate break for the fighter out of Adah, Pennsylvania.
In the first round, Bergman was incensed after he appeared to knock the 31-year-old Morrison down with a short left hook off the ropes. The referee ruled it a push and Bergman spent the next several seconds aggressively asking why it wasn’t a knockdown. At one point, Bergman put his gloves into the referee’s torso, but Bergman was not reprimanded as he was implored to continue the fight.
Ragan outpoints Clark and cruises to victory
Cincinnati’s Duke Ragan (4-0, 1 KO) had a unique test in his young professional career against Charles Clark, before earning a unanimous decision victory. Clark (3-7-1, 1 KO) clearly didn’t possess the same skill level as Ragan and tried to aggravate Ragan throughout their six-round fight.
However, the 23-year-old prospect wasn’t rattled. Ragan used a wide arsenal and showcased his speed and precision throughout, and didn’t drop a single point on all three scorecards (6-54, 60-54 and 60-54). Even though 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 impressed his hometown Tulsa fans with a devastating one-punch knockout in the first round of a four-rounder against Jayvone Dafney. It was an outcome that was brewing from the opening bell.
Dafney (2-3, 2 KOs), 33, from McComb, Mississippi, had the refined technique of someone in a viral video of a street fight, throwing wide, slapping punches with his chin in the air against Milton, who employed a more traditional approach.
It paid off for Milton (3-0, 3 KOs), 26, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he landed a thudding, overhand right that had Dafney knocked out, seemingly frozen with his back against the ropes. Milton showed incredible restraint in not following up a punch before the referee eventually realized that Dafney was out on his feet and stopped the fight at 1:19 of the round.
Conto stops Cortes in Round 1
Heavyweight Sonny Conto wasn’t in the ring long. He quickly 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, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, landed a strong jab often throughout the fight. He tripled it up at point as Cortes (6-4, 3 KOs), 29, of Phoenix, Arizona, was constantly flustered by the lead left. That jab set up the big, straight right hand that floored Cortes, forcing r=the referee to stop the fight at 1:41 minutes.
Conto has won his last three fights in the first round, totaling 6:49 minutes of fight action since October 2019.
Still to come:
Joe Smith Jr. vs. Maxim Vlasov, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBO light heavyweights title
Efe Ajagba vs. Brian Howard, 10 rounds, heavyweights
Jared Anderson vs. Jeremiah Karpency, 8 rounds, heavyweights
Albert Bell vs. Manuel Rey Rojas, 8 rounds, junior lightweights
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