The Joe Smith Jr day job and top level pro boxing career story is a one that you don’t see much anymore. Old school. Refreshing. Almost a modern day Rocky movie type story. A real blue collar success story if ever there was one.
Joe Smith Jr recorded the biggest win of his boxing career just before Christmas 2016 when he stopped the great Bernard Hopkins inside the distance in LA, in a fight billed as Hopkins’ last hurrah and one many expected him to win – only for Smith Jr to rip up the script and send ‘The Executioner’ crashing out of the ring in the process.
But the glory and fame that has come so far has clearly not gone to the likeable New Yorker’s head, as it turns out he is, as well as being a top tier professional prize fighter, also a construction worker by day.
Joe Smith Jr day job return this week:
First day back on the job! #commonman #wbcchampion pic.twitter.com/0rW1lsnq1E
— Joe Smith Jr (@beastsmithjr) 9 January 2017
Respect.
The big hitting Smith who is now 23-1 (19KO) won the WBC international light-heavyweight title with the victory over Hopkins, so he could find himself in a big fight or even against the WBC’s main champion Adonis Stevenson sooner rather than later this year.
It will be interesting to see if he makes the move to then dedicate his entire professional life to boxing full-time.
Whatever he chooses to do, you cannot knock this man’s incredible work ethic, showing yet again why boxers are some of the most special athletes in the world:
My team came to visit me on the job site today. @joedeguardia @JerryCap61 and Phil. #unionmade #local66 #starboxing #fightingcapobiancos pic.twitter.com/vBLCEJmqtF
— Joe Smith Jr (@beastsmithjr) 9 January 2017
It is not clear yet if Bernard Hopkins will retire or will opt to have one final fight following the Smith defeat, but with Hopkins turning 52 years of age this month, one would suspect that was the last we probably saw of him as an active fighter.
If you missed the fight here’s the moment it all ended via the HBO YouTube channel (hat tip and credit):
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