Ishe Smith explains being snapped up by Mayweather, back on May 4

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

‘Sugar Shay’ to fight next month

Former Contender star and much-avoided fighter Ishe Smith can finally see a light at the end the tunnel as the American has signed a deal with Mayweather Promotions and will begin with a fight on May 4^th.

The 33 year-old has endured a frustrating time of late, with cancellations and the collapse of proposed promotional deals and is now hoping that he can resume his career after teaming up with Floyd Mayweather.

“It's been all a blessing,” Smith told World Boxing News.

“I went to watch Mayweather work out a couple of times and in the process of doing that I asked Leonard [Ellerbe] if they had any shows coming up and if so could he get me on because I'm a free agent.

“I got a call that Floyd wanted me to join his camp and that they were going to put me on their show May 4th at the Hard Rock Casino here in Las Vegas. I spoke to Floyd myself and told him I was having trouble getting fights and that no one wanted to fight me. He told me not to worry about it and he would make sure I was fighting and he appreciates me joining his camp.

“I have known Floyd since I was 10 years old, we came up through the amateurs together. I have the utmost respect for him in and out of the ring. He is a person of high integrity and keeps his word. If Floyd tells you he is going to do something for you, you can take it to the bank that he's gonna do it.

“There is no doubt I am feared in the sport of boxing, the only debate is for what. I have had about 5-7 fights fall out over the last 17 months. I have to sit back and watch guys like Ishida take an ass whooping on Showtime only to be rewarded a world title shot his very next fight, that's disgusting.

“I don't hate on any man getting his money but the game has got to be fair at some point. God has kept me all this time, Floyd is helping me get fights, and the rest is up to me. This is the second and final act of my career, how this story ends is totally up to me.”

An opponent for Smith is set to be announced shortly on a card that will precede the huge Mayweather v Cotto WBA light-middleweight title bout on the Friday night in Las Vegas.

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (picure by boxrec.com) After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway. One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie gained a su

BBC make Luke Campbell mum and sister death gaffe

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Picture from the BBC Gabby Logan announces wrong family tragedy The BBC made a major mistake on the final showing of their Olympics Tonight show as host Gabby Logan sparked an anxious quizzing by boxer Luke Campbell’s fans as they announced the ‘loss’ of his mother and sister at a young age. Campbell, 24, took the gold medal in the men’s bantamweight final earlier in the day and was then congratulated by Logan, who announced his victory as a triumph over adversity after the Hull fighter suffered the tragedy six years ago. Unbeknown to presenter Logan, it was Welshman Freddie Evans, who also boxes in an Olympic final tomorrow, who suffered the tragedy as he lost his mother Tracy and sister Scarlett in a car accident in 2006. Fans of Olympic champion Campbell and boxing in general, immediately began handing out sympathy to the boxer after believing what was announced to be true. Logan, after an outcry on social networking website Twitte

Soccer star Tim Cahill’s cousin Jai Opetaia, 16, spars Danny Green

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (Picture from The Brisbane Times) Youngster shares ring with IBO champ Jai Opetaia, cousin of Everton Football Club’s star soccer player Tim Cahill, is a sixteen year-old amateur fighter who is deep in preparations for the forthcoming world youth championships. Recently the youngster was given the opportunity to spar with Australia’s IBO world light-heavyweight champion Danny Green as he prepares to take on Antonio Tarver and gain valuable experience before his trip to Europe. Opetaia, who hails from Watanobbi, has already taken former world champion Anthony Mundine a few rounds in sparring and has added another world renowned boxer to the list in 38 year-old Green. The Australian amateur team departs for the championships in Kazakhstan this Tuesday and Opetaia thinks the gym time with the Aussie boxing starts will stand him in good stead as he looks to claim gold at the under 80kg category. “It feels pretty special,” Opetaia told the Central Coas

World Boxing News 2010-2013

Search This Blog