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Atlantic City Showdown: Jesse Hart and Joe Smith Jr. Face Off Two Days Before Light Heavyweight Battle

Hart-Smith and Steven Nelson-Cem Kilic to air LIVE on ESPN beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Undercard to stream on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Jan. 9, 2020) — Jesse Hart and Joe Smith Jr. faced off two days before their highly anticipated 10-round light heavyweight showdown Saturday from Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Hart is attempting to gain a measure of revenge, as Smith knocked out his mentor and close friend Bernard Hopkins back in December 2016.

Hart (26-2, 21 KOs), who twice challenged for a super middleweight world title, will be making his second appearance at light heavyweight. Smith (24-3, 20 KOs) is making his second attempt at a world title, as he fell short in a spirited effort against WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol last March.

The ESPN co-feature, a 10-round battle of super middleweight unbeatens, will feature Terence Crawford stablemate Steven Nelson against Cem Kilic.

ESPN, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Jesse Hart vs. Joe Smith Jr., 10 rounds, light heavyweight

Steven Nelson vs. Cem Kilic, 10 rounds, super middleweight

ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

Joseph Adorno vs. Hector Garcia, 8 rounds, lightweight

Chris Thomas vs. Samir Barbosa, 6 rounds, super middleweight

Shinard Bunch vs. Dennis Okoth, 6 rounds, welterweight

Sonny Conto vs. Curtis Head, 4 rounds, heavyweight

Jeremy Adorno vs. Fernando Ibarra, 4 rounds, super bantamweight

Xander Zayas vs. Corey Champion, 4 rounds, welterweight

For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Star Boxing, tickets priced at $100, $60, $40 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.

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