The North American Boxing Federation (NABF) has sanctioned the Friday, July 16 ShoBox battle between undefeated Fernando Guerrero of Salisbury, MD and Ishe Smith of Las Vegas, NV as a bout for the vacant NABF Middleweight title.
The bout will headline a ShoBox tripleheader that will take place at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, MS. The telecast begins on the Showtime network at 11 PM ET.
Guerrero, a former interim NABO Middleweight champ (18-0, 15 KO's), is ranked number five by the WBO and last fought on April 16 in Salisbury, MD on a ShoBox telecast and scored a second-round TKO over Michael Walker.
This will be Guerrero's fourth appearance on ShoBox and commentators Steve Farhood and former world champion Antonio Tarver say they are impressed and looking forward to this step-up bout for Guerrero.
“Fernando Guerrero has unmistakable star appeal, and in taking on Ishe Smith, he’s ready to prove he has the class to match the flash,” Farhood said in a Showtime press release. “Smith will be Guerrero’s toughest test to date. It’s a critical step for Guerrero, who’s ready to move from prospect to top-20 contender.”
“It’s been nice watching him develop because he seems to have all the tools to become a contender,” Tarver said. “We just want to seem him step up the competition and we think Smith is that step for him. He was under matched in his last fight and he had a nice win in front of his hometown, but it wasn’t the best indication of what his potential is. The Smith fight should be that indicator. He has all the natural, God-given talent and ability, but the mark of a champion is how he fights under pressure and under adversity. If he loses a round or two, will he be able to dig deep and bring out something special?”
Smith, a cast member of season one of "The Contender," (21-4, nine KO's) knows his experience could give him the opportunity to push the hard-hitting Guerrero to the brink.
“It’s going to be very interesting to see what the young man can handle,” Smith said in a press release. “When we get into swimming and get into the deep, deep waters, it will be interesting to see if he still needs those floaties. My job is to take the young man into deep waters and cut those floaties off and see if he’ll sink or swim.”
“I’ve fought some big names: (Joel) Julio, (Daniel) Jacobs, (Sechew) Powell, (Sergio) Mora. I’ve been here, I’ve done that. The question isn’t what I’m going to do; the question is what he’s going to do. We will take off those floaties. There’s no question about that, but we’ll see if he sinks or swims.”
Good luck Fernando
ReplyDeleteBy far, with out a close second, Fernando is the class of the Beltway area. His career is on a championship pace, he is active and stepping up. Fernando will stop Smith in 8
ReplyDeleteIshe Smith will win
ReplyDeleteFernando will win but he won't stop him. It will be somewhat close but Ishe Smith will always do what he does, do just enough to lose. Fernando won't stop him though and you can take that one all the way to the bank.
ReplyDeleteGuerrero will simply be too active in the ring for Ishe Smith to win.. He won't be able to hit him and he must certainly, won't be able to win more than 2-3 rounds on the scorecards.. Boxing (along with other combat sports ) always leaves you with that "puncher's chance" but I haven't seen enough punching from Ishe as of late to even garner him that opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI want to predict a T.K.O victory for Guerrero but I just don't know because Smith has one of those styles that you can beat, but not knockout..
guerrero camp need 2 step up.stop fighting bums.
ReplyDelete