Joe Smith Jnr to headline 50th Rockin’ Fights on February 13

Former light heavyweight titleholder Joe Smith Jnr will headline the 50th edition of the Rockin’ Fights series on February 13 at The Paramount in Huntington, New York.

Smith, 28-5 (22 KOs), from Long Island, New York, will face an opponent to be named in a 10-round cruiserweight bout and help celebrate the event anniversary of Rockin’ Fights, now in its 14th year.

“It’s been a very rewarding 14 years of promoting world-class fights here at the best fight club in New York,” said Joe DeGuardia, president and CEO of Star Boxing. “I’m very proud that world champions such as Joe Smith Jnr, Chris Algieri and Demetrius Andrade, and numerous world-ranked contenders, have been developed and fought many times on this series.”

Smith has fought at The Paramount on four other occasions, most recently in 2016, when he stopped Fabiano Pena, launching him into high-profile fights with (and wins over) Andrzej Fonfara and Bernard Hopkins. He has been a strong draw at the venue and in general at shows staged on the East Coast.

Smith will be coming off a 15-month layoff, having most recently fallen to unified light heavyweight titleholder Artur Beterbiev by stoppage in June 2023 and Gilberto Ramirez (now a cruiserweight titlist) by decision in October 2023.

In support, junior middleweight prospect Micky Scala, 11-0 (6 KOs), of Mesa, Arizona, will face Victor Toney, 8-3-1 (6 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, in a scheduled eight-rounder; and Yan Carlos Perez, 4-0 (2 KOs), will meet Yeuri Andujar, 7-6-1 (4 KOs), in an eight-round clash of junior welterweights from the Dominican Republic.

Also on the bill will be David Malul, 2-0 (2 KOs), of Queens, New York, against Shaquille Rushing, 0-1, of Lakeside, Florida, in a four-round welterweight bout; Germany’s Granit Stein, 18-1-1 (10 KOs), in a scheduled eight-rounder at light heavyweight against an opponent to be announced; and Joe Elzey, 3-0 (1 KO), of Bronx, New York, taking on Jordy Suarez Gonzalez, 1-0 (1 KO), of Nashville, in junior lightweight action.

“Many of the loyal fans in the area come to every show, and that has validated our mission to provide a great night of fights and entertainment,” DeGuardia said. “Our 50th event anniversary is a big benchmark for us, and we look forward to continuing the series at The Paramount in the years ahead.”