Ishe Smith training for his bout with Carlos Molina (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)

By Chris Robinson

After speaking with IBF junior middleweight champion and Las Vegas native Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith moments ago, I’ve been advised that his scheduled July 19th clash against challenger Carlos Molina will have to be postponed due to a severe cut that Smith suffered during sparring earlier today.

Smith-Molina was set to take place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as the main event of a Showtime-televised tripleheader.

This is certainly heartbreaking news for the 34-year old Smith, who won his belt on February 23rd in Detroit by outpointing then-champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage over twelve rounds.

Smith’s spirits were high heading into the Molina fight and he had been getting great work from sparring partners Luis ‘Cuba’ Arias and DonYil Livingston at the Mayweather Boxing Club.

Smith had hoped to push forward with the fight but was advised by local physicians to rest for four to six weeks until his injury had healed. Smith will have a follow-up appointment next week to assure there is no further damage from his injury.

A visibly distraught Smith is still coping with the news and understands that he must be at his best for such an important fight to take place.

“I want to make sure I am properly prepared and in the best form possible to fight against Molina,” stated Smith. “Not only does he deserve to fight me at my best, but my family, friends, and training team deserve to have me fight at 100%. It’s very hard to postpone after we have had such a great camp, but the sport of boxing and the fans deserve to watch Molina and I fight at our peak fitness levels and I just can’t provide that with the untimely injury.”

The date of rescheduled fight will be announced as soon as there is more information.

Expect a full, in-depth interview with Smith in the coming days.

Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com