This past weekend I had a lengthy conversation with junior middleweight contender Ishe Smith. It seemed like just yesterday that Smith was getting his first taste of fame from the inaugural season of NBC?s The Contender series, but these days he is having no luck whatsoever landing a big fight.
Smith claims to have called out a myriad of big names from 154 to 160 pounds, including the likes of Alfredo Angulo, James Kirkland, Peter Quillin, and Deandre Latimore, amongst others, but would go on to tell me that he feels certain fighters are avoiding him. Towards the end of our conversation Ishe focused on Latimore and took some digs at the St. Louis fighter.
I had last talked to Deandre on August 13th as we spoke ringside moments after Abner Mares? victory over Joseph Agbeko at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Now serving as a key sparring partner in Floyd Mayweather?s camp in Las Vegas, Latimore spoke on that opportunity and also said he was willing to face anyone in the 154-pound class when eyeing his own future.
