Top Rank on ESPN championship boxing returns this Saturday, April 10 — with a live, sold-out, ticket-buying audience — as blue-collar hero Joe Smith Jr. battles Russian veteran Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title from Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Tony Holden Productions, Smith-Vlasov and a 10-round heavyweight co-feature between Efe Ajagba and Brian “MVP” Howard will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN + at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The undercard, including the return of heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (8-0, 8 KOs) against Jeremiah Karpency, will stream live on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.
Smith, Vlasov, Ajagba and Howard will meet the media for a Zoom press conference Monday beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET/9:15 a.m. PT.
The order is as follows (all times ET):
Ajagba: 12:15 p.m.
Howard: 12:30 p.m.
Vlasov: 12:45 p.m.
Smith: 1 p.m.
From Top Rank Boxing