Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Middleweight back to square one in fight search
A three-fight deal with Prizefight Promotions has fallen
through leaving Las Vegas-based middleweight Ishe Smith a free agent once again
as he looks to secure a big fight in 2012.
Smith, 33, had originally announced the deal last month, quickly
followed by a potential clash with former IBF light-middleweight champion
Kassim Ouma on March 29th but both deals have now fallen through as the
American told WBN today.
“I have been told that the Ouma fight is off,” Smith
explained to World Boxing News.
“I have always wanted to fight Kassim since we were both
with Golden Boy. But it just seems that this fight is not meant to happen for
whatever reasons.
“As for my promotional status, it remains the same as its
been for the last year - I am currently a free agent.
"We tried to get a deal hammered out with Prizefight Promotions for the last month or so but we just haven't been able to get it done.
"We tried to get a deal hammered out with Prizefight Promotions for the last month or so but we just haven't been able to get it done.
“I have a lot of respect for Brian (Young), Nate (Yoder),
and Russ (Young) and maybe it's something we can eventually hammer out in the
future. They are good at what they do and I respect all they have tried to do
for me. I'm in the gym getting top notch sparring and whatever God brings our
way we will be ready to go.”
'Sugar Shay' has been out of the ring since November
2010 when he stopped Alexander Quiroz in two rounds at the Scheels Arena in
Fargo, North Dakota. Smith has been linked to bouts with the likes of Peter
Quillin and world champions Gennady Golovkin and Dmitry Pirog, although the
bouts have failed to materialize leaving Smith searching for his 28th
professional opponent for his first fight of 2012 after a fight-less 2011.