Boxing: Fonfara to Meet ‘Irish Bomber’ in PBC on NBC Main Event

Andrzej Fonfara came up short against Adonis Stevenson for the WBC light heavyweight title two years ago, but that hasn’t deterred him from achieving his goal of becoming a world champion. The Warsaw, Poland, native will take another step at getting another crack at gold when he takes on Joe Smith Jr. on June 18.

Fonfara (28-3, 16 KOs) will headline the next Premier Boxing Champions card on NBC and he won’t have to travel far to let his fists fly. The event will go down inside UIC Pavilion in Chicago, his adopted hometown, but that advantage won’t help him at all if he takes “The Irish Bomber” lightly.

“I think that this fight Smith is a great challenge for me and I do not underestimate him,” said Fonfara. “He is young and hungry and he wants to use this fight and my name to show the world his skills. He's coming to Chicago for victory and glory. I have to show him that I am stronger, more experienced and most importantly, a smarter fighter. I have to win this fight because it will open the door for me to rematch Adonis Stevenson.”

Smith Jr. (21-1, 17 KOs) has won 15 in a row and has shown no signs of slowing down. The Long Island, N.Y. native has been feasting on decent opposition, but nobody with the talent or experience as Fonfara but he’s not letting that deter him.

“I've been working very hard and for many years towards an opportunity like this,” said Smith Jr. “I am grateful to Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing for helping to get me here. This fight is going to change my life and no one is going to keep me from winning.”

Also slated for the marquee will be a bantamweight world championship between Juan Carlos Payano defending his WBA title against Rau’shee Warren. The two fought a brilliant war last August in what was a candidate for fight of the year, with Payano coming out of the scrum the victor via split decision.

“I knew this rematch would be offered and it's been a waiting game since I beat him the first time,” said Payano (17-0, 8 KOs). “I feel like I won convincingly, but some people feel otherwise. I'm very excited about fighting him again and this time I'll beat him even more easily. Fighting on NBC is a great privilege and it's a great place to showcase my talents. I am coming in humbled by this opportunity.”

“I've been waiting for this rematch since the moment we got out of the ring the first time,” countered Warren (13-1, 4 KOs). “I'm happy it's finally coming up on June 18. Until that day is here, there is nothing else on my mind. I'm real sharp right now. I'm going for the knockout. It didn't go my way last time, but I'm bringing home the belt this time.”

Also slated for the televised portion of the card will be Erickson Lubin (14-0, 10 KOs) taking on fellow junior middleweight Daniel Sandoval (37-3, 34 KOs). The action goes live on NBC starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.