Dmitry Bivol wants the winner of the Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. fight.
Beterbiev is the WBC and IBF champion while Smith holds the WBO title, meaning that the winner of June’s fight could ultimately fight Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight crown.
That fight now may be delayed a little due to a potential rematch between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Bivol after the Mexican suffered an upset defeat at the weekend.
The undisputed super middleweight has said that he wants a rematch that should come in the next six months, according to Bivol’s manager, which would knock any further fight for Bivol into 2023.
Speaking on the DAZN Boxing Show, Bivol was quizzed about the potential outcome of the Beterbiev-Smith fight, and he thought the unbeaten unified champion had the edge.
“First of all, it’s an interesting fight,” he said, before backing Beterbiev. “Of course, he has more chance: he has more power and boxing skills - a little better than Smith.
“He has much more fights in the amateurs which makes you more skilled, to give you more experience. Joe Smith still how the power and a big heart, it’s an interesting fight.”
Discussing the chance of taking on the victor, he was clear.
“Of course I want to fight the winner of this fight,” he confirmed.