Joshua Buatsi says Callum Smith vs Bivol will be a competitive fight

Joshua Buatsi, who lost a unanimous decision to Callum Smith last February, said he is unsure whether 22 months out of the ring will hurt Smith in his challenge to Dmitry Bivol.

Joshua Buatsi expects Callum Smith's challenge for Dmitry Bivol's three light-heavyweight world titles to be close, although he is unsure how 22 months of inactivity will affect the Liverpudlian.

Both men who shared a Fight of the Year contender last February are now in world title fights within five weeks of each other. Buatsi meets Scotland's Willy Hutchinson in a rematch for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title in Manchester on Saturday. Smith faces Bivol at the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Saturday 12 December.

Buatsi said: “It’ll be a competitive fight.” On Smith's long absence, Buatsi said: “I don’t know if the inactivity will suit Smith but Smith has been inactive at times and come back in one fight, he did that against me, so can I say that it might not help him?” He added: “It might not, but sometimes the resting is good for the body so we will have to wait and see.” Smith beat Buatsi by unanimous decision, with scores of 115-113, 119-110 and 116-112, on the undercard of the rematch between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. He has not fought since. He was scheduled to face David Morrell earlier this year but withdrew with a late injury.

As the WBO interim champion and mandatory challenger, Smith was ordered to fight Bivol for the unified 175lb title.

Buatsi returned to winning ways with a majority-decision victory over Zach Parker last November.

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