Dmitry Bivol vs. Callum Smith - December 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Smith will rise to the occasion and beat Bivol, says trainer McGirt

Dmitry Bivol has a decision to make – either fight light heavyweight mandatory challenger Callum Smith or move on to bigger business with bouts against either Artur Beterbiev or David Benavidez.

Earlier this week, the WBO ordered negotiations to begin between The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion Bivol and interim beltholder Smith, Bivol’s mandatory and No. 1 contender.

Hall of Fame fighter-turned-coach Buddy McGirt has trained Smith over the last five years and five fights following the former 168-pound champion’s loss to Canelo Alvarez in 2020.

McGirt likes his charges' chances better against Bivol, The Ring’s No. 6-ranked P4P fighter.

“Callum will rise to the occasion for this fight against Bivol, without a doubt,” McGirt told The Ring.

“Callum will beat Bivol with what he’s capable of. Bivol can fight, but it’s what Callum can do... he's long, rangy and can catch Bivol when he’s bouncing in and out. Callum just has to be ready to fire.”

Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) has been on the sidelines since suffering an injury in April forcing him to withdraw from a David Morrell headline fight less than two weeks before their April 18 scheduled date. That would've ended a 14-month layoff, having won a February 2025 war against Joshua Buatsi for the WBO interim title he now holds.

Round six in the Smith-Buatsi bout was a candidate for Round of the Year.

Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs), meanwhile, returned from back surgery in May for what essentially amounted to a tune-up fight against Michael Eifert as the Russian easily cruised to a shutout decision win against his outmatched IBF mandatory challenger.

The fight marked Bivol’s first outing since moving on from two tough tilts against Beterbiev in which they both traded majority decision wins. Beterbiev, who stopped Smith in a January 2024 title defense, beat Bivol in October 2024 but lost in February last year.

Eifert was nowhere near the same zip code in providing Bivol with some semblance of a test, landing a mind-numbingly low 12 punches in 12 rounds.

“Bivol fights to the capacity of his opponent,” McGirt said. “If his opponent's good, you're gonna get the best. If the opponent is mediocre, you're going to get a mediocre performance. Bivol does just enough to win against mediocre guys. When the opponent is a star, he rises to the occasion.”


So what’s the gameplan for Smith to beat Bivol?

“It's an ancient Chinese secret,” McGirt said with a hearty laugh.

[MPW]

I think Bivol will win a close decision, but I can see Smith making him work for it. At least I hope that's the case. I sometimes forget that Smith has only lost twice in his career: Alvarez in 2020 and Beterbiev in 2024, two pretty good fighters.

[mickey1975]

I think Bivol will win a close decision, but I can see Smith making him work for it. At least I hope that's the case. I sometimes forget that Smith has only lost twice in his career: Alvarez in 2020 and Beterbiev in 2024, two pretty good fighters.

And he got battered in both. Poor efforts really. His cv is weak.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BIVOL TO VACATE WBO TITLE, DITCH SMITH FOR BETERVIEV TRILOGY

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has offered tremendous clarity into light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol's desired next move.

Earlier this month, The Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO titleholder Bivol was ordered by the latter to face mandatory challenger and interim champion Callum Smith.

Both sides have until July 26 to agree to a deal, but it doesn't appear anything will get done because Bivol has told his promoter to pursue the trilogy fight against Artur Beterbiev.

"[Bivol's manager] Vadim Kornilov and Bivol have told me to please begin negotiations with [IBA president] Umar Kremlev, or RCC Boxing Promotions. We're ready to make the Beterbiev fight. That's the fight Dmitry wants," Hearn told The Ring.

"Dmitry is due to fight Callum Smith. I think it's unlikely he'll defend against Smith. I think Smith will fight Joshua Buatsi for the vacant title. But Bivol is ready to make the Beterbiev fight."

Kremlev told The Ring last week that Bivol recently declined a twice as lucrative offer to face Beterbiev.

"None of that is true. You know, firstly, I heard reports that Bivol has been offered $14 million to fight Beterbiev," Hearn said. "If those people are watching right now, call me and make that offer, and he will accept it immediately."

Bivol and Beterbiev split a pair of razor-close majority decisions in their championship rivalry. Beterbiev edged the first meeting in October 2024 to become the undisputed light heavyweight king. Bivol avenged the defeat four months later to reclaim the crown. Both blockbuster bouts headlined cards in Saudi Arabia backed by Turki Alalshikh.

Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) hasn't fought since the sequel and has been vocal about his displeasure regarding Bivol's unwillingness to move forward with a third fight.
Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) returned from back surgery in May to easily outpoint his outmatched IBF mandatory challenger, Michael Eifert.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The WBO have ordered a purse bid for Dmitry Bivol's mandatory light heavyweight title defense against Callum Smith after parties were unable to reach terms.

The bid is scheduled to take place on August 27th.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BIVOL-SMITH DEAL REACHED

A deal have been agreed for Dmitry Bivol to defend his unified light heavyweight title against his mandatory challenger Callum Smith next, avoiding a purse bid hearing. Date & Venue to be confirmed.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[mickey1975]

In Russia.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dmitri Bivol, Callum Smith strike deal for December 12 title fight in Russia

The promoters for three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and his WBO No. 1 contender Callum Smith have struck a deal for their mandatory bout.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed the news in a post on X, stating an announcement on a date and location for the contest would come from the involved parties in due course.

An official close to negotiations told Boxing Scene that the fight will take place on December 12 in Russia, the home nation of champion Bivol.

England’s Smith, 31-2 (22 KOs), elevated to the top WBO spot by defeating Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision on the February 2025 card when Bivol avenged a prior loss to undisputed light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev by majority decision in Saudi Arabia.

Russia’s Bivol, 25-1 (12 KOs), later underwent back surgery, returning to the ring on May 30 to dispose of IBF mandatory Michael Eifert by unanimous decision in Russia.

Beterbiev, 41, has been sidelined since the Bivol bout and pushing for a trilogy bout that now will be further delayed while the remaining light-heavyweight champion, David Benavidez, is moving toward a mid-December defense of his WBA/WBO cruiserweight titles versus Michal Cieslak in Arizona.

[THEBUTCH]

Smith is far, far more deserving of a world title fight than...say, Yarde, for example.

Callum has his work cut out, as would any Light heavyweight in history, but has the proverbial "punchers" chance and is a fair boxer himself.

Bivol is no destroyer in the mould of Canelo & Beterbiev and boy did Smith prove his mettle against Buatsi.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBO confirms Dmitry Bivol, Callum Smith agree to fight terms

Dmitry Bivol’s 2026 will be spent fighting mandatories.

The WBO revealed that Bivol, its reigning light heavyweight champion, and Callum Smith, the interim beltholder, have sent a written statement confirming that they have agreed to fight next.

According to RCC Boxing, Bivol’s co-promoter, and Matchroom Boxing, Smith’s handlers, also have a date and venue in mind.

Initially, the WBO gave both parties until August 27 to agree to terms or a purse bid would be ordered.

Bivol, who also holds The Ring, IBF, and WBA titles, was hoping for a bigger fight.

The 35-year-old from Russia shook off a 15-month absence following back surgery to win a lopsided unanimous decision over Michael Eifert, his then-IBF mandatory, on May 30 in Russia.

Soon after, Bivol, who underwent left elbow surgery, said he wanted to close out the year with a fight against Artur Beterbiev or WBC champion David Benavidez.

Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) and Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) handed each other the first defeats of their careers after a pair of fights in 2024 and 2025. Beterbiev won their first meeting by majority decision in Saudi Arabia to become light heavyweight undisputed champion.

That reign, however, was short-lived as Bivol won their rematch by majority decision four months later in Saudi Arabia.
Bivol would eventually vacate his title, which led to Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) being elevated from interim to full beltholder, as he pursued a third fight against Beterbiev.

As for Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), he’ll get his chance to become a two-division champion.

The 36-year-old former Ring and WBA 168-pound champion hasn’t fought since beating Joshua Buatsi for the WBO interim title on February 22 in Riyadh.

He was originally ordered to face David Morrell with the winner being given a mandated shot at Bivol’s 175-pound throne. However, Smith was forced to pull out of their April 18 bout due to an injury in training camp.

Instead of waiting for their fight to get rescheduled, Morrell fought Zak Chelli on May 9. The Cuban was stopped in the 10th and final round, prompting the WBO to order Bivol vs. Smith.

[Delta Jay]

Scouse power. Destroys him in 2.

Probably not like but I’ll be going to this, never been to Russia. Do they have Greggs?

[CaptainSpacerod]

Fair play to Callum for taking an assignment as difficult as this at this stage of his career. He could earn good money staying at home fighting any of the clutch of domestic light heavies but he’s chosen to test himself against the best in what will presumably be a very hostile environment. Hats off to him

Long time since he boxed though, would he not be best served having a stay busy fight against a tomato can if time constraints allow ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Deal reached for Bivol’s mandatory defense against interim titlist Smith

175 championship fight ticketed for Dec. 12 in Ekaterinburg, Russia

Lineal/three-belt light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and WBO interim titlist Callum Smith made a deal for their mandatory fight and the WBO purse bid scheduled for Thursday was canceled.

“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee has received written confirmation from RCC Boxing, on behalf of WBO light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, and Matchroom Boxing, on behalf of mandatory challenger Callum Smith, confirming that the parties have reached terms, including an agreed date and venue for the WBO light heavyweight mandatory championship contest,” WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced on Thursday.

“The WBO respectfully defers to the parties to formally announce the date, venue, and event details in due course.”

RCC Promotions will promote the bout and is planning it for Dec. 12 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, sources with knowledge of the plans told Fight Freaks Unite.

It will be Bivol’s second defense of his second title reign since outpointing Artur Beterbiev to win the undisputed title and avenge his only loss in February 2025, although he has since vacated the WBC belt.

Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs), 35, was then off for 15 months due to back surgery. He returned on May 30 and honored his IBF mandatory defense, scoring a first-round knockdown in a shutout decision of Michael Eifert in a fight that also took place in Ekaterinburg.

Bivol had left elbow surgery to clean up loose particles on July 23 in his home country of Russia but is rehabbing and expected to be ready to face Smith. If Bivol beats Smith he would like a third fight with Beterbiev.

Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), 36, of England, a former WBA super middleweight titleholder, suffered a rib injury that caused an April 18 fight with David Morrell to be canceled. He’s been idle since outpointing countryman Joshua Buatsi to win the interim belt in February 2025.

[Ruthless-RKO]