Verona, NY to host Bivol-Smith, Hooker-LesPierre

The March 9th DAZN doubleheader headlined by Dmitry Bivol vs. Joe Smith Jr. will, as expected take place at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. Verona was one of two named locations, alongside Mashantucket, when the fight was confirmed earlier this month.

Turning Stone recently hosted the January 18th card in which Oscar Rivas upset Bryant Jennings.

Bivol (15-0, 11 KO) will be making his second appearance in New York, having knocked out Sullivan Barrera at Madison Square Garden Theater last March. Smith Jr. (24-2, 20 KO), a Long Island native, will have something of a home field advantage.

In the co-feature, WBO super lightweight champ Maurice Hooker (25-0-3, 17 KO) looks for his second title defense against Mikkel LesPierre (21-0-1, 10 KO). Hooker defeated Terry Flanagan for the belt last June, then outslugged Alex Saucedo five months later. LesPierre is a massive step back for him and should be defeated in short order.