Light heavyweight world titlist Dmitry Bivol, the most coveted boxing broadcast free agent on the market other than Gennady Golovkin in the wake of HBO's exit from the sport at the end of 2018, signed a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn on Tuesday.
Bivol will appear exclusively on sports streaming service DAZN, where Hearn has a long-term contract.
In addition to announcing that Bivol and longtime promoter World of Boxing have partnered with Hearn, they also announced Bivol's first bout under the agreement -- and fifth title defense -- would be against Joe Smith Jr.
Hearn said he would announce the March date and venue for the fight Friday, but a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN the fight will take place March 9 at either Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, or Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Bivol (15-0, 11 KOs), 28, of Russia, retained his 175-pound title for the fourth time with a lopsided decision over former world champion Jean Pascal on Nov. 24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the main event of the final HBO "World Championship Boxing" card.
Bivol's team also had serious discussions about a deal with Top Rank to bring him to ESPN, but they went with Hearn and DAZN. Bivol will take on a top contender in Smith, who is best known for knocking the great Bernard Hopkins out of the ring in an eighth-round win that sent Hopkins into retirement in December 2016.
Smith also scored a stunning first-round upset knockout of Andrzej Fonfara earlier in 2016 to put him on the world boxing scene.
"I am glad to finally meet Joe in the ring," Bivol said. "I saw his fights against Fonfara and Hopkins live and always wanted to test my skills against him. Thank you to World of Boxing, Matchroom Boxing USA and DAZN -- I hope to put a great performance for everybody."
Bivol was supposed to fight Smith in November. The deal had been agreed to but not yet signed when he pulled out for a more lucrative fight with titleholder Artur Beterbiev. Bivol instead faced Pascal, and Beterbiev wound up pulling out of the fight with Smith.
"Bivol was supposed to fight Joe back in November. It's a very exciting fight," said Vadim Kornilov, Bivol's manager. "Both Dmitry and Joe have a lot of power. I guess this fight was meant to happen and we look forward to a building relationship with Eddie Hearn and DAZN."
Kornilov told ESPN that after facing Smith, Bivol intends to move down to the 168-pound super middleweight division.
"Bivol is interested in a world title at 168 and unification at 175 when other 175-pound champions are hopefully ready and willing to unify," Kornilov said.
After defeating Hopkins, Smith (24-2, 20 KOs), 29, a popular attraction from New York's Long Island, lost a 10-round decision to contender Sullivan Barrera in July 2017. Smith suffered a badly broken jaw in the fight and was out of action for 11 months before returning for a first-round knockout win of Melvin Russell in June.
In his second fight since the injury, he gets the title shot he's been hoping for.
"Everything I've worked for in and out of the gym was to better myself and become a world champion," Smith said. "All the hard work and my determination will pay off come fight night."
Smith and promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing made a co-promotional deal with Hearn hoping Smith would land a title shot, be it against Beterbiev or Bivol.
"Joe Smith Jr. is one of the hardest punching fighters out there," DeGuardia said. "His exciting style and humble background has made him a real fan favorite. I am pleased he will be getting this opportunity to fight for the world championship. Joe has been anxiously waiting for this opportunity."