Fonfara gets little-known Smith in June bout

5:47 PM ET

Light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara has been facing mostly top opposition in recent fights, but that won’t be the case for his next one.

Fonfara appears to be getting a bit of a respite against Joe Smith Jr., who has spent most of his career fighting on club cards in New York. They will meet in a scheduled 10-round bout that will headline a Premier Boxing Champions card on June 18 on NBC in prime time (8:30 p.m. ET) at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, PBC announced Friday.

Fonfara (28-3, 16 KOs), a native of Poland who lives in Chicago, where he is a popular draw, lost a very competitive unanimous decision to light heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson in May 2014. He has won three fights in a row since, including a decision against former world titleholder Nathan Cleverly in his last fight in October and a ninth-round TKO of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in April 2015, when Chavez quit between rounds.

Although Smith’s resume is devoid of any significant wins or opposition, Fonfara said he will take him seriously.

Andrzej Fonfara says he hopes his June 18 fight with Joe Smith will “open the door” to a rematch with light heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson. Jon Durr/Getty Images

“I think that this fight Smith is a great challenge for me, and I do not underestimate him,” said Fonfara, 28. “He is young and hungry, and he wants to use this fight and my name to show the world his skills. He’s coming to Chicago for victory and glory.

“I have to show him that I am stronger, more experienced and, most importantly, a smarter fighter. I have to win this fight because it …

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