By Chris Glover

New York promoter Lou DiBella was present at Matchroom Boxing’s show at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theatre, which saw Demetrius Andrade remain WBO world middleweight champion, as he successfully overcome the challenge of Russian Artur Akavov via a twelfth round stoppage victory.

Prior to the evening of boxing, it was announced that DiBella’s super lightweight charge Mikkel LesPierre would challenge WBO super lightweight champion Maurice Hooker at Verona’s Turning Stone Resort and Casino on March 9.

The contest will act as a chief support to Dmitry Bivol’s WBA world light heavyweight title defence against the battle hardened Joe Smith Jr.

DiBella opened up about the chances of his charge LesPierre.

He said, “This is a great opportunity for Mikkel. He’s been working a 9-5 job at Mount Sinai hospital and balancing a full time boxing career around it. He’s really deserving of this opportunity.

“Mikkel has all the tools to win this fight. He’s an excellent fighter who’s well known within New York boxing circles. This is going to be a great fight and it will be Maurice Hooker’s biggest test to date.”

Another one of DiBella’s charges is Richard Commey, who challenges Isa Chaniev for the IBF world lightweight title on February 2.

DiBella weighed in on what the present and future holds for Commey, “I fully expect Richard Commey to come through his fight with Isa Chaniev and look good in doing it.

DiBella continued, “Commey is a fantastic fighter, who will really look to show off he is right at the top of the lightweight division.

“We are not looking past the job on February 2, but when Richard becomes IBF World Champion, we want Lomachenko next. Richard will cause Lomachenko problems he has never seen before and I’m backing my man to cause an upset.”

Amanda Serreno won a world title in a seventh different weight class on the Matchroom Boxing USA promoted show, and DiBella gave his take on what was next for the Brooklyn based women’s boxing icon.

“I would love to see Amanda square off against Katie Taylor. They are two of the biggest names in the sport of women’s boxing, so I would love that fight to happen in the future.”