ANDY RUIZ JR’S former opponent Maurenzo ‘Tuffy’ Smith has been shot dead in Houston.
Tributes have poured in for the 44-year-old father of two, who fought some big names during a lengthy boxing career.
Maurenzo ‘Tuffy’ Smith won 29 of his 46 professional bouts
Andy Ruiz Jr fought Smith in 2013 Credit: Getty Smith was gunned down by an unnamed 61-year-old assailant, who later shot himself in the head after the crime and is not expected to survive.
The former fighter met his would-be killer in a seafood restaurant where he accompanied an alleged girlfriend to talk through divorce proceedings with the man.
The two parties reportedly spoke for 20 minutes before things turned heated, with the suspect then leaving the restaurant.
But he returned and shot Smith several times, missing his wife and the other restaurant patrons with the 13 rounds he let off.
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Tyson Fury reveals plan to run for Prime Minister as champ opens new restaurant Smith was raising four children following the passing of his wife two years ago.
He had 46 bouts as a professional with 29 wins, four draws and 13 defeats to boxers including Ruiz Jr, Shannon Briggs, Charles Martin, Adam Kownacki and Chris Arreola.
Smith last fought Jose Elias Pacheco in Colombia in January and was set to return to the country for a bout next week.
Tributes have poured in for the fighter with a friend writing on Twitter: “Rest in peace Lorenzo (Tuffy) Smith a great champion and even better Coach and friend. I’ll miss you homie.”
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His daughter Saraa Abdullah Smith said: “He was always looking to improve.
“Whether it was for leadership, working out or just becoming a better man or better father.”
Relatives described Smith as a “very loving, kind guy” with his sister Cherice Westpiere describing him as a celebrity boxer born and raised in Houston.
Westpiere also revealed she lost her mother and now brother in the space of just two years.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
