Smith is a seasoned pro at this point, so his job is to stay on task. In boxing, you have to prepare mentally and physically for the expected and the unexpected. But, with the opportunity to fight for a world title, he jumped at the opportunity. The Miami, Florida-based fighter was in preparation for a fight on January 8.
Also, Geffrard has adequate hand speed and throws his punches short and with precision. Geffrard is more of a boxer, with arguably a better jab than his previously scheduled opponent, Johnson. There may be moments of adjustment for the defending champ. But, he’s making a significant leap in competition. He knows how to handle himself in the ring. An observation of him in action discloses a fighter of some solid skills and is fundamentally sound. This reporter was able to see him on video. In 2010, he was named USA Boxing Male Athlete of the Year after winning the Heavyweight Golden Gloves and National Championships.
However, the challenger boasts good amateur background. At first glance, the 31-year-old is unranked by any of the four major sanctioning bodies, and his list of opponents is underwhelming. While Arum claims Geffrard is “credible”, some will view that opinion with a hard side-eye. Bob Arum announces Steve Geffrard as the replacement opponent for Joe Smith Jr.