Newly crowned IBF light middleweight champion Ishe "Sugar Shay" Smith (25-5, 11 KO) couldn't be in a much better position. His first title defense will take place on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez superfight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas—Smith's hometown—on Sept. 14.
The 35-year-old Smith will take on veteran Carlos "King" Molina (21-5-2, 6 KO) as part of a stellar pay-per-view event that will also feature Lucas Matthysse challenging WBA and WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia.
The Garcia-Matthysse bout could headline a major card on a cable network. For it to be included in the Mayweather-Canelo card is great. Because of the appeal of the top-two fights, the pay-per-view buys should be impressive.
That dynamic will create a sizable audience for every fighter scheduled to compete.
Despite his world champion status, Smith isn't a household name by any stretch. An impressive performance against Molina could raise his level of appeal with boxing fans. He's proven himself to be a good technical boxer with a solid chin.
Smith has been in the ring with big punchers like Randall Bailey and Danny Jacobs, but he hasn't been floored in his career.
Though he's rugged, Smith doesn't have a ton of power, as evidenced by his 11 KO wins in 30 fights.
That's part of the reason he hasn't established himself as a bigger name in the sport—despite winning a world title.
Smith's opponent isn't a powerful puncher either. Molina has stopped only six opponents in his career. He brings a similar toughness, having never been stopped, but Smith has the edge in quickness and a slight reach advantage.
Molina's defense isn't exceptional, and his style should create opportunities for Smith to land big shots on the challenger. This fight shapes up as a potential showcase for Smith on one of the biggest stages he'll perform on his career.
Signing with The Money Team, Mayweather's promotional group, was a great move for Smith. He's already seen his notoriety and success grow since joining the power group.
At 35 years old, he must take advantage of the opportunities he's getting. All signs point to a shining performance from him in his hometown.
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