Yarde V Joe Smith Jnr - Vacant WBO Title

I see Spencer Fearon is saying that this fight is on the table for April 18th.

I would be astonished if Yarde/Frank took the fight, but fair play to all involved if it does get made.

I didn’t see the fight, but I heard Smith gave Bivol a good go before losing on points..he’s a tough kid, with a sturdy chin and on experience, I would have to make him a narrow favourite.

 

Yeah, he beats Yarde right now but hey...if yarde gets a decent payday why not...no zero to protect.

 

Sometimes you’ve got to dare to be great. Have confidence in yourself and it can pay off and as you say, with no “0” to protect its a no brainer. Worst case he gets a good payday.

 

Rumour a few months back was that Callum Johnson was gonna fight Joe Smith Jn. Can Yarde fight for this title off the back of a loss?

By the way, Joe Smith beats him imo but fair play for taking it.

 

No. If you remember before Smith Williams 1 (it was for vacant world title), Smith was coming off Canelo loss. A few weeks before the fight he had to fly over to Barcelona and fight on a small show over there against a nobody to get his W.

 

I would fancy smith to beat Yarde, I think it could be a great fight.

 

Smith Jr has absolute elite level power and is very tough. He caught Bivol towards the end of one of the rounds, and had him out of it. Bivol admits this himself. That was just one punch in the course of 12 round fight that landed.

You have to fancy Smith Jr here to get to Yarde who is a lot easier to hit clean, and get the stoppage victory.

I would be pumped for this fight as Yarde is a live dog.

 

He might have been old but the way he starched Hopkins was quality and equally the Fonfara KO was mint.

 

Would this be for the full WBO title? I know Canelo vacated but Yarde and Smith Jr aren't anywhere near the top of the WBO rankings.

Why would this be for the vacant title?

 

Tough fight but why not?
As mentioned, no 0 to protect
Smith is really heavy handed so Yarde needs to work on defensive counters

 

I don't think Yarde will get a better chance at a world title than this, he has far more chance here than against Bivol or Beterbiev, he'd be a fool not to take it.

 

I like Smith Jnr and Yarde, I think it would be a great fight, I hope it was happens.

 

Another potentially fabulous fight if it gets made. Can't see Yarde avoiding one of Smith's bombs for the entire 12 rounds but it would still be a cracker. Let's hope it comes off.

 

What am I missing? There's so much exciting domestic competition he skipped to fight Kovalev, in fact he completely skipped everything between journeyman and world level. So why fight Joe Smith Jr?

 

hopkins was talking a power of pish in the build up aswell! was brilliant