The Ring has learned that Smith, the WBO interim light heavyweight champion, is next in line to face Dmitry Bivol, who also is The Ring, IBF and WBA 175-pound champion, should he beat Michael Eifert on May 30.

According to WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, however, there have been preliminary talks to stage an undisputed bout with Bivol at the end of this year. Or Bivol could opt for a third fight vs. Artur Beterbiev. Both options would be much more lucrative than Smith.

If Eifert, the IBF mandatory, were to pull off a major upset, Smith will be ordered to face him instead.

Although Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) beat Joshua Buatsi for the secondary title last year, he needed to beat David Morrell to get Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs).

Chelli took care of that for him last weekend by upsetting Morrell by KO.

Smith and Morrell had been scheduled to fight April 18 in Liverpool, with the winner getting a mandated crack at Bivol. However, Smith, a former super middleweight champion, was forced to withdraw because of an unspecified injury during training camp.

Instead of waiting, Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs) opted to stay busy and face Chelli in Manchester.

Morrell dominated, but in the ninth he was rocked. In the 10th and final frame, Chelli stopped the Cuban in the waning seconds.

As a result, Morrell, who was ranked No. 1 in the WBO, lost his position in the sanctioning body.

Bivol beat Smith on points as an amateur.