Dmitry Bivol vs Joe Smith Jr (Odds Review)

Published

7 years ago

March 9, 2019

A quartet of promoters featuring Kathy Duva, Lou DiBella, Eddie Hearn and Dmitry Ivanov get together this Saturday night in upstate New York for a nine fight boxing card that sees the main events air on DAZN.

Two world title fights sit atop the card, with seven fights in support. WBA world light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (15-0) is making a fourth defense of the title he won back in November of 2017 as the 28-year-old faces hard-hitting New Yorker Joe Smith Jr (24-2). Smith looked on the cusp after he scored several big KO’s, including a stoppage win over Bernard Hopkins that sent the legend into retirement. In his lone recent loss to Sullivan Barrera, he had the Cuban fighter down early but Smith lost the decision after Barrera got up off the canvas. Bivol, like Barrera, has a wide amateur record and Smith Jr will have to show more than stopping power to have a chance with the judges. Most doubt that Smith Jr has the bag of tricks to match up with Bivol.

WBO 140-pound champion Maurice Hooker (25-0-3) defends his title against undefeated Mikkel LesPierre (21-0-1). LesPierre has just 10 KOs wins in his career, and with a moniker like Slikk Mikk it would appear that LesPierre will look to take his chances with the judges. This is Hooker’s third title defense. His opponents in his three previous world title fights were a combined 79-0. Not all the sportsbooks carry a three way line including a draw, but that may be a line to look for in this one.

A second interesting light heavyweight bout sees New York product Sean Monaghan (29-2) facing England’s Callum Johnson (17-1). Monaghan’s two losses came against higher competition in Sullivan Barrera (L UD 10) and Marcus Browne (L TKO 2). Johnson is looking to bounce back from a loss in an IBF world title shot against Artur Beterbiev where he was stopped in the fourth round. It will be interesting to see if this line is accurate or if Johnson’s British following has managed to make the line wider than it should be,

Below are the odds heading into weigh-in day for the featured bouts. The main events are set to air on DAZN. Check your local listings for start times.

Turning Stone Resort & Casino – Verona, New York – Saturday, March 9, 2019

Super Lightweight 12 rounds –

Maurice Hooker -4500

Mikkel LesPierre +2250

Light Heavyweight 12 rounds –

Dmitry Bivol -2000

Joe Smith Jr. +1250

Light Heavyweight 10 rounds –

Callum Johnson -860

Sean Monaghan +580

Heavyweight 10 rounds –

Sergey Kuzmin -4000