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Andrzej Fonfara is slated to face heavy-handed but unknown Joe Smith

Fighters Network
09
May

 

Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime

Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime

Andrzej Fonfara, who has wins over Nathan Cleverly and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in his last two fights, is slated to face heavy-handed but widely unknown Joe Smith Jr. on June 18 at UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois, a source confirmed to RingTV.com on Monday.

The light heavyweight bout is scheduled to headline a Premier Boxing Champions tripleheader targeted for NBC that will also feature a rematch between former three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren and bantamweight titleholder Juan Carlos Payano.

The highly-touted prospect Erickson Lubin (14-0, 10 knockouts) is set to open the telecast, though an opponent is still being sought for the blue-chipper. Lubin was initially penciled in to face Victor Puiu, who has fought just once since 2012. Puiu’s inactivity triggered a decision to switch opponents, said the source, who declined to be identified because the card is still being finalized. Further undercard bouts could also end up on NBCSN he said.



Poland’s Fanfara, who now resides in Chicago, rebounded from a decision loss to WBC light heavyweight titleholder Adonis Stevenson in 2014 to post victories against Cleverly in October and Chavez Jr. last April. The ninth-round stoppage against Chavez Jr. remains Fanfara’s calling card to bigger fights. But in facing Smith Jr., Fanfara (28-3, 16 KOs) is apparently taking a stay-busy fight until another opportunity against a titleholder emerges.

A former standout amateur from Long Island, Smith (21-1, 17 KOs) is perhaps best known for his win against undefeated light heavy Sean Monaghan in the finals of the 2008 New York Golden Gloves in the 178-pound novice division. He out-slugged a faded Will Rosinsky last December but has very few notables on his professional resume.

Warren (13-1, 4 KOs) lost a split decision to WBA bantamweight titleholder Payano (17-0, 8 KOs) last August after decking him in the 12th round. The bout was foul-filled as Payano was docked a point in the third for hitting behind the head while Warren was deducted two points in the ninth for persistent shoving.

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