Are you looking to watch the upcoming light heavyweight title fight between Joe Smith Jr and Steve Geffrard? This guide will provide everything you need to know to live stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard online from anywhere.
Boxing fans are eagerly anticipating the January 15th match-up between WBO champion Joe Smith Jr and top contender Steve Geffrard. The fight is taking place at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY and headlines a Premier Boxing Champions card on ESPN.
With Smith Jr‘s power and Geffrard‘s slick boxing skills, this has the makings of an action-packed battle. As more and more fans move to streaming their sports online, this guide will help you watch Smith vs Geffrard live from anywhere in the world.
Who Are Joe Smith Jr and Steve Geffrard?
Before we get into how to stream the fight, let‘s take a quick look at the two combatants.
Joe Smith Jr.
The 32-year-old Smith Jr currently holds the WBO light heavyweight title and has a professional record of 27-3 with 21 knockouts. He fights out of Long Island, NY and turned pro back in 2009.
Smith Jr is known for his tremendous punching power at 175 pounds. He has some thunderous knockout wins on his resume, including stoppages of legendary champions Bernard Hopkins and Andrzej Fonfara. His most recent victory came via 9th round TKO against Steve Geffrard‘s original opponent, Callum Johnson.
According to CompuBox stats, Smith Jr lands an incredible 45% of his power punches which is well above the division average. He will definitely be looking to test Geffrard‘s chin early and often.
Steve Geffrard
The late replacement Geffrard steps in with a record of 18-2 with 12 KOs. The 31-year-old fights out of Miami, Florida and turned pro back in 2010.
Geffrard was born in Haiti and didn‘t start boxing until age 24. He employs a more classic boxing style compared to Smith Jr‘s aggression. Steve likes working behind the jab and landing accurate counterpunches.
In his two losses, Geffrard dropped decisions to world-class operators Dmitry Bivol and Luis Collazo. This will no doubt be his toughest test to date against the champion.
Geffrard took this short notice title shot on just 10 days notice after Johnson pulled out. He was already training for a January 22nd fight, so should be well prepared.
Smith Jr vs Geffrard Viewership Expectations
Boxing has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. There are now multiple high-profile events every month live on services like ESPN+, Showtime PPV, and FOX PPV.
Just look at some of these viewership numbers:
- Canelo Alvarez vs Caleb Plant (Nov 2021): Around 800,000 PPV buys
- Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 (Oct 2021): Estimated 800,000 PPV buys
- Manny Pacquiao vs Yordenis Ugas (Aug 2021): Approximately 400,000 PPV buys
The Smith Jr vs Geffrard light heavyweight title fight is unlikely to reach those massive numbers. But it still should interest plenty of knowledgeable boxing fans.
Joe Smith Jr is must-see TV because of his seek-and-destroy style. The match-up also now has an intriguing storyline with Geffrard stepping in on short notice.
Industry projections have this fight potentially drawing 150,000 – 200,000 PPV buys. The late start time on the East Coast does mean that viewership could fall short of projections, however.
With the continued rise of cord-cutting, more and more fans are streaming live sports online as opposed to traditional cable/satellite pay-per-view. Services like ESPN+ make it easy and affordable.
Now let‘s get into how you can live stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard online from anywhere in the world.
How to Stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard in the US
Boxing fans based in the United States have an easy option for watching Smith vs Geffrard online. The fight card is being presented on ESPN+ PPV.
The PPV price has been set at $39.99 for current ESPN+ subscribers and $69.99 for new users. The main card starts at 10 pm ET with the main event ring walks scheduled for approximately 11 pm ET.
Here are step-by-step instructions for purchasing and streaming Smith Jr vs Geffrard on your device of choice:
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Sign up for ESPN+ – Get started with a monthly or annual subscription at www.espn.com. If you‘re a new subscriber, include the PPV in your package for $69.99 total.
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Download the ESPN App – Get the app on your mobile device, streaming device (Roku, Firestick, Apple TV etc) or game console.
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Purchase the PPV – Existing ESPN+ members can buy Smith vs Geffrard for $39.99 right in the ESPN app. Follow any prompts to upgrade your account.
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Stream the Fights – Once purchased, you can stream the full fight night including prelims and main card.
It‘s really that simple to access Smith Jr vs Geffrard directly through ESPN. But there are a couple other options to mention…
Some top live TV streaming services also include ESPN and ESPN+ access, such as:
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Sling TV – ESPN and ESPN+ can be added to Sling Orange or Blue for $11 per month combined. Stream on Roku, Fire TV, mobile and more.
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FuboTV – Get full ESPN/ESPN+ access with the Fubo Starter Plan ($69.99 per month). Stream on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast and web.
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Hulu + Live TV – A full cable replacement with 75+ channels, including ESPN/ESPN+. Plans start at $69.99 per month.
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YouTube TV – Get 85+ channels with YouTube TV, including ESPN networks. Plans start at $64.99 per month.
Any of those services can be used to purchase the Smith Jr vs Geffrard PPV from ESPN+ and stream the fight live.
Now as a word of caution, some online streaming sites offer pirated streams of PPV events. We recommend avoiding these, as they are illegal and pose privacy risks.
Instead, take advantage of the affordable pricing and reliability of ESPN+.
Watching Smith Jr vs Geffrard Anywhere in the World
There is one catch with ESPN+ – its live streams are geo-restricted to the United States. So if you‘re out of the country or traveling abroad, the streams will be blacked out.
That‘s where a VPN (Virtual Private Network) comes in handy! A VPN allows you to change your IP address to an American server location, thereby unblocking access to ESPN+ outside of the US.
Our recommendation is to use ExpressVPN which offers:
- Blazing fast speeds essential for live sports
- Robust privacy and security protections
- Easy app setup for streaming devices like Fire TV and Apple TV
- Unblocks access to US services like ESPN+ abroad
- 30-day money back guarantee
Follow these simple steps to live stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard using ExpressVPN:
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Sign up for ExpressVPN and download the app for your device.
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Connect to a secure ExpressVPN server located in the U.S.
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Launch the ESPN app, sign-in and purchase the Smith Jr vs Geffrard PPV.
By connecting through a VPN server in the U.S., you can gain access to the ESPN+ live stream from anywhere around the world. It‘s really that easy!
ExpressVPN also provides extra benefits like:
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Privacy – Your online activity is hidden from your ISP and no logs are maintained.
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Security – Bank-grade encryption protects you on public WiFi networks.
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Speed – Get ultra fast connection speeds for live HD streaming.
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24/7 Support – Get assistance from the knowledgeable support team anytime.
Take advantage of ExpressVPN‘s 30-day money back guarantee and try it out for Smith Jr vs Geffrard risk-free.
How to Watch Smith Jr vs Geffrard in UK & Ireland
Fans based in the UK and Ireland also have an online streaming option for Smith vs Geffrard. This Premier Boxing Champions card will be shown live on Sky Sports pay-per-view.
The PPV price through Sky has been set at £19.95 for subscribers and £24.95 for new customers. You can live stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard through the Sky Go app or right on www.skysports.com.
Here‘s how to purchase the PPV and stream the fight from the UK or Ireland:
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Visit www.skysports.com/boxofficelive (for new Sky customers, sign up for an account).
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Purchase the Smith Jr vs Geffrard PPV access for £19.95 (existing customer) or £24.95 (new customer).
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Log-in to the Sky Go app or website with your Sky credentials.
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Live stream the full fight card on Saturday, January 15 starting at 3 am GMT.
By purchasing through Sky Sports Box Office, you‘ll get live online access to Smith vs Geffrard on up to two registered devices. This includes mobile devices, tablets, computers, TV streamers like Roku, gaming consoles and Smart TVs.
UK boxing fans can also access Smith Jr vs Geffrard by adding Premier Sports to their Sky, Virgin or Premier Player subscriptions. Premier Sports 1 will have live coverage at no extra cost to subscribers.
And remember, if you‘re outside the UK/Ireland you can always use ExpressVPN to watch Sky or Premier Sports from anywhere.
How to Stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard in Canada
Boxing fans in Canada have a great option for watching the Smith vs Geffrard live stream. TSN has acquired the rights to broadcast this PBC event and will show the full card.
The TSN coverage will be available on TSN3 starting at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT on Saturday night. The main card kicks off at that time with Joe Smith Jr vs Steve Geffrard expected in the ring approximately at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT.
TSN has online streaming available on their website, iOS/Android apps and through the TSN Direct streaming service.
Here‘s how to stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard live on TSN:
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Visit TSN.ca or download the TSN app on mobile/streaming devices.
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Log-in with your TV provider credentials (or sign-up for TSN Direct).
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Find TSN3 in the channel/streaming guide at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT.
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Live stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard and enjoy the fights!
TSN‘s coverage is only accessible within Canada. So if you‘re traveling or living abroad, you‘ll need to use a VPN like ExpressVPN to watch the Smith vs Geffrard live stream on TSN from anywhere.
How to Stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard Live in Australia
Aussie fight fans also have a live stream option for Smith Jr vs Geffrard. Foxtel will be broadcasting this world title fight live through their Main Event PPV channel.
The PPV price has been set at $29.95 for Main Event subscribers. Here are the details on how to watch:
- Date: Sunday, January 16
- Start Time: Main card @ 12 pm AEDT / 9 am AWST
- Order: Foxtel Main Event PPV – $29.95
- Stream: On TV or stream with Foxtel GO app
Foxtel Play is the dedicated app for streaming Main Event PPVs live on your mobile devices or tablets. You can also access Main Event through Foxtel Now which offers streaming over the internet.
One other option for Australians is to use FITE TV. FITE has acquired worldwide online rights (excl. US/UK) for Smith Jr vs Geffrard. You can purchase the PPV directly at FITE.tv for $29.99 in Australian dollars.
FITE can then be streamed on any device through their website or mobile apps. This gives Aussies an affordable over-the-top streaming choice for the fights.
And a final note – if you are abroad and get geo-blocked from Foxtel/FITE‘s Australia-only streams, remember to connect to a VPN like ExpressVPN. That will let you live stream Smith vs Geffrard from anywhere.
Expert Predictions and Analysis
Now that we‘ve covered how fans around the world can stream Smith Jr vs Geffrard online, let‘s take a quick look at predictions for how this light heavyweight title fight could play out.
Smith Jr is a sizable betting favorite coming into this matchup as the defending champion. The current odds have Smith Jr as a -800 favorite, with the comeback on Geffrard at +500 (via DraftKings).
The oddsmakers respect Smith‘s championship pedigree and fight-ending power. He has been in deep waters before and passed those tests.
While Geffrard looks to have the superior pure boxing skills, he is moving up in class facing the hard-hitting Smith Jr. Steve has some pro experience, but nothing to this level competing for a world title.
Fight analysis: It is expected that Steve will need to weather an early storm from Smith Jr, who likes to throw heavy artillery right away. Geffrard‘s keys will be using his jab and footwork to keep the aggressive champion at range in the early rounds.
If Steve can avoid getting caught early, he has a chance to outbox Smith Jr and take over down the stretch. The question is whether he can survive the championship rounds with Smith Jr.
Prediction: The feeling here is that ultimately Smith Jr‘s punching power will be the difference. He only needs to land one big shot to end the night. And with his frenetic pressure style, that opportunity is likely to come. Smith Jr wins via TKO in the mid-to-late rounds.
How to Watch Smith Jr vs Geffrard Live – Quick Bullet Points
- Date: Saturday, January 15
- Main Card Time: 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT
- Main Event Time (approx): 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT
- PPV Order: ESPN+ ($39.99, U.S.), Sky Sports (£19.95, U.K.), Foxtel ($29.95, Australia)
- Live Stream: ESPN app, Sky Go, Foxtel GO/Now, FITE.tv
- VPN Recommendation: ExpressVPN for privacy/security and unlocking geo-blocks
With multiple strong options to watch the fight across different countries, it‘s now easier than ever for boxing fans to stream live PPV events. We recommend taking advantage of ExpressVPN to access your local provider from anywhere securely.
Sit back and get ready to see an explosive battle between Joe Smith Jr and Steve Geffrard!
About the Author
Mark Wilson has been writing about cybersecurity, privacy, cryptocurrencies, and streaming for over 5 years. He has a passion for staying up to date on the latest tech trends and helping inform others on best practices and software.
When he‘s not typing away at his keyboard, Mark enjoys playing basketball, watching sci-fi, and playing drums.
