Prediction,

Good match up.

Lubin was not a bad amateur, never fought in a world tournament, but did win gold in PAL, Golden Gloves, and Copa Independencia tournaments, not close to Olympic level, but still good amateur experience. As a professional, overall, Lubin has done well so far, he is only 23, and he seemed to be progressing very well a couple of years ago, when he was easily beating guys like Ivan Montero and Jorge Cota, he beat Orlando Lora as well. Lubin was 18-0 going into the Jermell Charlo fight, but he was only 22, he wasn't ready for a world title fight, and it went very badly for him. It looked like a feeling out round, and then Charlo just caught Lubin with a lethal right uppercut he did not see coming, knocked him out almost cold, he physically could not get up, he tried, but he was done. I don't know how much Lubin learned from the Charlo fight, because it was 1 round, but at the same time, it was one shot, a damaging loss, but better than getting battered. Lubin is with a new trainer now, has had 1 fight since the Charlo loss, just a confidence booster, against an opponent with a record of 37-21, an easy 4 round stoppage win. Lubin is still somewhat untested, the Charlo fight was a test, but not the ultimate test, Lubin might be a good world level fighter, he might not be, but this is a good step up for him from the opponents he has beaten. Lubin has not been that active, the return fight was 9-10 months ago, the Charlo fight was 16 months ago, so ring rust might be an issue for him, his confidence, mentality is questionable, because he took a demoralizing loss against Charlo.

Ishe Smith has been around for a while, he has a record of 29-10, he is more of an opponent than a fighter you expect to win, he is teak tough, never been stopped. Smith has had 39 fights, he is a veteran, he has been in against Jacobs, Martirosyan, Lara, but he is 40, is well past his best. Smith was a world champion in 2013, beat Cornelius Bundrage, lost the title in his first defence, against Carlos Molina, on the Mayweather vs Alvarez undercard, in a split decision loss. Besides the Bundrage win, Smith has wins over Frank Galarza and Randall Bailey, he did well against Jacobs, won 4 rounds, it was an MD against Martirosyan (even though it was very wide on the two decisive cards), and he did well against Tony Harrison, only an SD, lost by clear margins on two cards, but was well in the fight, and Harrison, with the recent upset win over Jermell Charlo.

This might be the night when Smith plummets, just gets old overnight, is shot, and gets stopped by a guy he would not have been stopped by, earlier in his career, and if so, that's good for Lubin, but Smith might not be shot yet, and if not, I doubt Lubin will stop Smith, he can punch a bit, Lubin, might hit harder than Martiroysan, who dropped Smith twice, but I still don't think Lubin will get the stoppage.

I think this will be a competitive fight, I think Lubin is the more talented, but Smith is much more experienced, I just think the Lubin has the better boxing skills, is too slick, and he will do enough to win the fight, but I don't think it will be easy.

I think Lubin wins a UD, 96-94 or 97-93.