Joe Smith Jr. may defend light heavyweight title against Daniel Jacobs this fall

Newly topped WBO mild heavyweight world titlist Joe Smith Jr. may make his first protection towards former middleweight titleholder Daniel Jacobs, each side informed The Ring.

The Smith camp is weighing a suggestion made by Jacobs promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing for the battle, which might place within the fall in New York Metropolis.

“I feel it was a terrific provide that Eddie made. It’s a number of occasions greater than Joe Smith has ever made in his life, so I feel it was a robust provide,” Keith Connolly, Jacobs’ supervisor, informed The Ring on Tuesday, though he declined to specify the quantity of the provide. “It’ll be the largest battle between New Yorkers in New York in a very long time. I feel Barclays Middle and Madison Sq. Backyard could be actually within the battle. It might be an enormous battle for New York and for boxing.”

Smith promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing confirmed that Hearn has made the provide to High Rank, which co-promotes Smith, and that he and Smith have an interest within the bout.

“I’m involved in a number of fights on the market for Joe, however a battle with Danny Jacobs could be fascinating and fan pleasant. Any battle Joe Smith is in is a fan pleasant battle. Clearly, I’m in search of one of the best complete circumstances for Joe and me, so actually the query for us is what’s one of the best situation? There are plenty of components. We’re going by them and sitting down with Joe and with (High Rank chairman) Bob (Arum) and when all is claimed and executed we’ll collectively resolve which means we’re going to go.”

The 31-year-old Smith (27-3, 21 KOs), a well-liked draw from Mastic on New York’s Lengthy Island, gained a hard-fought and very aggressive battle towards Russia’s Maxim Vlasov to say the vacant WBO 175-pound title that had been vacated by Canelo Alvarez. Smith dug deep and swept the ultimate two rounds on all three scorecards to safe a dramatic, majority determination victory by scores of 115-113, 115-112 and 114-114.

Going into the battle, High Rank and DeGuardia have been planning for Smith, if he gained, to face WBC/IBF titleholder Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) in a three-belt unification battle within the fall. It’s a battle that Smith and Beterbiev, who can also be with High Rank, each mentioned they wished.

The Montreal-based Russian Beterbiev knocked out Adam Deines within the 10^th spherical of a compulsory protection on March 20 in Moscow to clear his hurdle into the battle. He mentioned going into the battle with Deines and afterward that he hoped to fulfill the Smith-Vlasov winner subsequent to additional unify titles.

However with the surprising provide coming from Hearn for Smith to defend towards Jacobs that plan may definitely change.

“Joe towards Beterbiev or towards Danny is a giant battle in New York however the battle with Danny might be an even bigger occasion,” DeGuardia mentioned. “I like each fights for Joe. From Danny’s perspective I perceive it; I perceive the place their facet is coming from as a result of it’s a giant battle, a giant New York battle and a change for Danny to win one other title. From our perspective I’ve to judge plenty of issues which might be obtainable.”

High Rank would additionally should log off any Smith battle. High Rank has one bout remaining on its possibility settlement with Smith and DeGuardia.

Connolly mentioned he hopes they’ll get a deal executed.

“That is type of a novel scenario the place we all know it will be a giant New York battle and an opportunity for Danny to win a world title in a second weight class. If it wasn’t a battle with any individual else from New York it wouldn’t be one thing we’d be proposing. However I sat down with Danny and we thought it was an enormous occasion for New York. I introduced up the concept to him and he liked it. Then I introduced it as much as Eddie and he liked the concept.

“And Eddie didn’t make a lowball provide. We went in with a superb provide proper off the bat as a result of it’s a battle we actually wish to make. Joe (DeGuardia) is speaking to High Rank about it. I’d be completely happy to speak to High Rank as nicely.”

Jacobs (37-3, 30 KOs), 34, of Brooklyn, New York, would transfer up in weight for the battle. He misplaced his middleweight world title by unanimous determination to Alvarez of their Might 2019 unification bout, after which Jacobs moved as much as tremendous middleweight, the place he has gained two fights in a row. He made Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. stop after the fifth spherical in December 2019 after which gained a cut up determination over Gabriel Rosado this previous November.

Hearn’s provide could be for the battle to happen on his broadcast accomplice, which is DAZN. However Connolly mentioned their facet would haven’t any drawback doing the battle on ESPN, the place High Rank has an unique deal.

“If High Rank made a decent provide to Danny we’d be keen to do the battle on ESPN as nicely,” Connolly mentioned. “We’re greater than keen to go battle on ESPN. There are not any boundaries to creating the battle on our finish. I’ve heard Joe Smith loves the battle and needs to battle Danny and has to speak to Joe DeGuardia and High Rank. I do know Danny would like to battle Joe Smith.

“We’re hoping to listen to one thing within the subsequent couple of weeks to see if we will get this battle executed. I don’t assume it’s a sophisticated deal to make.”