It’s Tulsa Time. Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov are finally set to battle for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title Saturday from Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nearly two months removed from Vlasov’s positive COVID-19 test that delayed their originally scheduled bout. In the 10-round co-feature, rising heavyweight Efe Ajagba (14-0, 11 KOs) takes on the upset-minded Brian Howard (15-4, 12 KOs).
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Smith-Vlasov and Ajagba-Howard will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The undercard, including appearances from heavyweight destroyer Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (8-0, 8 KOs), junior lightweight contender Albert Bell (17-0, 5 KOs), 2016 Brazilian gold medalist Robson Conceição (15-0, 7 KOs), young
middleweight phenom Troy Isley (1-0), Cincinnati-born featherweight prospect Duke Ragan (3-0, 1 KO), South Philadelphia heavyweight Sonny Conto (6-0, 5 KOs) and Tulsa-born heavyweight prospects Jeremiah Milton (2-0, 2 KOs) and Trey Lippe Morrison (16-0, 16 KOs), will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.
Fight Week Schedule
THURSDAY, April 8, 2021
Main Event Press Conference, hosted by Mark Shunock
3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Streaming LIVE on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel & ESPN+
FRIDAY, April 9, 2021
Official Weigh-In
4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Streaming LIVE on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel & ESPN+
SATURDAY, April 10, 2021
FIGHT NIGHT, Osage Casino (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Undercard Broadcast
5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT
Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Main Event Broadcast
Smith-Vlasov & Ajagba-Howard
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+
From Top Rank