Dmitry Bivol ordered to defend light heavyweight titles against interim champ Callum Smith
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Just weeks after Bivol dispatched his IBF mandatory challenger, the WBO has become the next sanctioning body to put him on notice.
Just weeks after Dmitry Bivol dispatched his IBF mandatory challenger, the WBO has become the next sanctioning body to put him on notice.
WBA, WBO and IBF unified light heavyweight champion Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) has officially been ordered to defend his titles against interim champion Callum Smith, WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed on Monday.
Bivol and Smith have 20 days to reach a deal, or a purse bid hearing will be ordered. Eddie Hearn's Matchroom promotes both boxers.
Smith captured the WBO interim title and mandatory position after edging fellow Brit Joshua Buatsi in a February 2025 Fight of the Year candidate.
Uncrowned's No. 6 pound-for-pound boxer, Bivol won a shutout decision over Michael Eifert this past May, ending a 15-month layoff and returning to the ring for the first time since recovering from back surgery last August.
Bivol underwent another medical procedure after his win over Eifert, this time for his left elbow. He is expected to recover from the procedure and fight Smith next.
Bivol became undisputed champion after dethroning Artur Beterbiev of his undisputed crown in their February 2025 rematch.
A trilogy fight between Bivol and Beterbiev and a unification fight against WBC champion David Benavidez are two of the most anticipated fights in the sport, however they have yet to materialize, and appear unlikely to do so in the immediate future.
Benavidez is expected to proceed with a three-belt cruiserweight unification fight next instead after the WBC made the rare move of ordering the WBA and WBO champion Benavidez to fight WBC titleholder Noel Mikaelyan last month.