Bivol predicts Beterbiev will smash Smith to potentially set stage for undisputed fight

Dmitry Bivol is not focused on a rematch with Canelo Alvarez.

The unbeaten WBA light heavyweight champion is zeroed in on the undisputed 175-pound championship.

On June 18 at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater in New York City, fellow undefeated champion Artur Beterbiev Joe Smith Jr. will collide in a three-belt unification showdown.

Russia's Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) holds the WBC and IBF titles, while Smith (28-3, 22 KOs), of Long Island, New York, is the WBO titleholder.

Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs), of Russia, upset the former pound-for-pound king Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) last Saturday night in Las Vegas, when he outboxed and dominated the Mexican superstar over 12 rounds to score a unanimous decision win.

The 31-year-old Bivol, who held Smith to 19 punches landed in a March 2019 12-round unanimous decision victory, believes Beterbiev will defeat his former opponent.

“First of all, it’s an interesting fight. [Beterbiev] has more chance [to win]: he has more power and boxing skills, [he's] 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,” Bivol told the DAZN Boxing Show. “Of course I want to fight the winner of this fight,” Bivol said.

Right now Bivol is waiting to obtain an answer from Canelo - regarding the immediate rematch clause in their bout agreement.

After suffering the second loss of his career, Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) said he would exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch, but admitted that it might not happen. Had Canelo won the fight, he had already agreed to face arch-nemesis Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy bout on September 17 for Alvarez's undisputed super middleweight world titles. But now he must decide whether he wants to fight Bivol or move back down in weight.