Joe Smith Jr returns to work on the BUILDING SITE less than a month after ending Bernard Hopkins’ boxing career in the most brutal fashion
Smith sent 51-year-old Hopkins crashing through the ropes and onto the floor as the referee waved off the fight in Los Angeles
JOE SMITH JR ended Bernard Hopkins’ boxing career in brutal fashion with a knockout that sent the ring legend crashing the ropes.
But now, less than a month after his stunning, and historic win, the 27-year-old has gone back to the day job – on the building site.
The New York boxer shared photos on his Twitter account of him stood on the site with his team, and notably, with his WBC International Light Heavyweight belt.
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In one of the photos, world champion Smith stands with the strap over his shoulder, and tags the post: “First day back on the job #commonman #WBCchampion.”
In another, he stands on the rubble with his team, but the safety operatives might be happy to seeing two of them without hard hats on.
Back on December 18 in Los Angeles, Smith sent veteran boxer Bernard Hopkins crashing through the ropes and onto the floor to end a career in devastating fashion.
The American veteran, 52 next month, couldn’t return to the ring within 20 seconds and lost his WBC light-heavyweight crown by technical knockout.
Already ahead on points on two of the judges’ scorecards, Smith ended the fight when he delivered a series of devastating blows to Hopkins’ head.
It was the crushing left hook, however, that sent Hopkins flying through the ropes and onto the Forum floor in Los Angeles.
Speaking ringside after the victory, Smith, 27, said: “I seen him fall and I kept hitting him.
“I didn’t expect him to get up but he is a true champion. I came here to do my job. This is my coming out part. I had to finish him.”