A few days ago, it was officially announced that Arkansas native Terry Smith will be facing comebacking undefeated heavyweight contender Joe Mesi on April 4th live from Twin Rivers Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island and televised on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. With the announcement, the media has already bombarded Baby Joe with questions about future opponents as he looks to get himself in line for a shot at a title. Mesi has been mentioning several names, including James Toney and Lamon Brewster, but ensures everyone that his sights are set on April 4th and Terry Smith. Smith, on the other hand, has mentioned no other names. Solely focused on April 4th, he wants everyone to know that he's coming to take Baby Joe's "O" away.
"I have been in camp with Oleg (Maskaev)," stated Smith as he talked about his preparations. "I had been helping him prepare for his fight with Sam Peter when I got the call about the Mesi fight so I was able to get some solid work in with Oleg."
Now back in Little Rock, Smith is taking what he learned in camp with Maskaev into his own camp to prepare with Mesi.
"Oleg is a similar boxer to Mesi," Smith continued. "I am taking what I got out of that camp with Oleg and we are putting things into my camp for Joe. I know that this a big opportunity for me and I am going to take advantage of the situation. I am not an opponent for anyone and I know that if I lose this fight, that is how people are going to try to label me so this fight is not only important for me as a professional, but it is important for me to get the respect back from the boxing world."
Smith is referring to a disastrous ending in 2007 that saw him drop two straight decisions to Rob Calloway and Robert Hawkins in fights where he admittedly wasn't fully focused on boxing.
"I was having some personal problems during that time," Smith reflects. "I am not taking anything away from those guys because they beat me. Although my mind was not fully on boxing, I took the fights anyway and lost so I am not making any excuses. I trained with Rob (Calloway) and I thought I could come in and have my way with him, but he changed up on me and did what he had to do to get the win. I have trained with Mesi several times as well and I have put those sessions out of my mind because I have learned a lot from my losses. As far as I see it, I am starting over and I am undefeated in 2008 and I plan on staying that way. My mind is clear and I know what I have to do. At times, I was not doing the things that got me to contender status, like going to the body and the head. At times, I would just go head hunting and that is not what got me here so I am going back to the beginning and I am hungry again because I want to put myself in position to get a title shot before I end my career. This is the first step."
After seeing Mesi on Friday Night Fights and reading some of his recent interviews, it is evident that he has a lot of respect for Smith. Smith feels the same way, but he also knows that inside the ring, you cannot be friends.
"You know, some of that came up when I fought Calloway. I showed too much respect. I know Joe and he is a stand-up guy and actually, he is everything that boxing needs. He is well-spoken and is a great ambassador for the sport. I respect him a lot and I think he feels the same about me, but that respect is not going to be there on April 4th. I am not badmouthing him or talking trash, but I have learned that when that bell rings to start the fight, you have to forget about friendships and respect. It is just you and him and if you show too much respect or you have a friendship mentality, you have already lost. On April 4th, I am going in there to win this fight. I am getting in better condition and we are not going to be friends in the ring. We can be friends after the final bell rings, but for that hour or so, I do not know him. He is just a guy trying to stop my dream."
With the exception of JD Chapman, who it seems like no one ever talks about, Arkansas boxers have not faired too well in 2007 and early 2008. During that time, Dominick Guinn, once considered to be the best heavyweight to emerge from Arkansas, lost two straight and isn't even considered to be a top contender anymore, Jermain Taylor was brutally knocked out by Kelly Pavlik and more recently lost the rematch, and Smith himself lost two fights in a row. With this fight, he has the opportunity to put Arkansas boxing back into the limelight again.
"I know I have an opportunity to lift Arkansas back up, but I am not thinking about that," stated Smith. "I am not saying that I do not think about that, but I am not putting the state on my shoulders either. I have to do this first for me, second for my family and then the state. I appreciate all the fans from Arkansas for the support, but I am the one fighting Joe Mesi. It is me that has to gain back the respect that I feel I have lost from the fans. The way to do that is to go out there and take care of business on April 4th. I have to come to fight because I know Joe is coming to fight and when he meet in the middle of the ring, we have a chance to make a statement in the heavyweight division. This fight is going to be a big step for both of us, not only the fight itself, but the winner is going to go on to bigger and better fights and I plan on that being me. When I win this fight, then I get a bigger fight. I am focused on one thing and that is winning this fight."
After suffering his first loss as a professional, Jermain Taylor made a somewhat controversial change to his team when he let go of Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward and replaced him with long-time father figure and trainer Ozell Nelson. Many criticized Taylor for making the move. Although Taylor ultimately lost the rematch and Nelson was still on the losing end, the team fared much better than anyone expected and Smith hopes to follow suit as he too has tabbed Nelson to head up his camp.
"Ozell is in the gym with me and I think he is going to work in my corner as well," Smith revealed. "We have not formally discussed anything, but it was Ozell that got the fight made when there was some controversy after Mark Vaz got the the fight worked out. I am not sure what everything was about. All I know is that Ozell said we were taking the fight and he told me he had this so I am looking forward to working with him for the fight."
With the match-up now set, Smith promises that he's coming into this fight at 200% across the board and he guarantees to make a statement against Mesi to prove that he's a top contender in the heavyweight division.
"I am coming to win, that's for sure. If Joe comes to fight the way he is known for, we are going to put on a great fight. I am coming in 200%. I am not a quitter and I will never give up. On April 4th, I am coming to beat Joe Mesi and from there, I am going to go after bigger and better fights, but it all starts April 4th against Joe Mesi."