Barrie-based boxing champ 'Marvellous' Mark Smither saw his big fight not even make it into the ring this past weekend.
Saturday night's bout at Pickering Casino Resort was cancelled on the day of the event after his opponent, Mexican boxer Paul Salcido, was disqualified by the boxing commission for being too heavy at the official pre-fight weigh-in.
Smither, the reigning IBO Americas Super Lightweight champion, was clearly frustrated as he addressed his fans on social media. In a video posted on fight day, he apologized to “supporters and fans that spent their hard-earned money and time to come out and watch the event.”
Smither, who has a 12-0 record since turning pro in 2019, said he was disappointed with the outcome.
“I made the weight, I put in the hard work in the gym to make this fight happen,” he said in the video. “It’s the most disrespectful thing in boxing not to make weight."
There is no word on whether the bout will be rescheduled or who Smither will face next.
"Unfortunately, we move on to somebody else," he told BradfordToday and InnisfilToday.
That "somebody" will be announced soon, as Smither takes part in a tune-up fight to close out 2023. It will likely be a short, six-round fight on Dec. 2 at the same Pickering casino, he added.
Smither says he looks forward to 2024.
"We have some exciting news coming early next year, a massive fight, hopefully in February or March, either overseas or in the Toronto casino," he said.
In August 2022, Smither successfully defended his Canadian Super Lightweight title during a bout against Collingwood's Cody Kelly at East Bayfield Community Centre in Barrie. It was the city's first professional boxing event with a local headliner. The two boxers had also paired up the previous December in Brampton.
Smither is the first Canadian champion to emerge from his training centre, Uptown Boxing, in Barrie. He was also the first to move into professional boxing.
Smither has said he didn’t consider taking up the sport until the age of 13, but he credits boxing with keeping him out of trouble.
“I was always a fan. Everyone has their own sports in high school and I decided on (boxing). I turned out to be OK at the sport and it helped me to do better at school,” he told BradfordToday and InnisfilToday in August 2022. “Boxing builds character and training (provides) a foundation to be a success out in the real world.”
In February 2022, Smither fought his way to a unanimous decision to win the Canadian Super Lightweight title against Paul Ipsas at the CAA Centre in Brampton.
