BoxRec

Callum Smith win or lose 'can come out of this fight with many positives. If he loses? I personally think there will be another potential world title fight against the winner of Hutchinson vs. Buatsi. So I completely disagree with anybody who thinks Callum Smith will retire if he loses this fight'.

Note: Especially if Smith produces a solid effort 'there is no reason for him to retire, with other big fights opportunities that can be made in Great Britain'.

Stylistically Dmitry Bivol is a really difficult technical challenge for Smith 'but there are many more dangerous fights out there for him. Canelo Alvarez, Artur Beterbiev were more stylistically dangerous fights for Smith'.

Dmitry Bivol has never been a monster puncher 'and his entire game, relies in accumulating more points than his opponents via having a superior and more effective work rate and defence'.

If Callum Smith wins this fight 'it will have to be by forcing a stoppage, or knocking out Dmitry Bivol'.

I don't think that feat is impossible 'Callum Smith is most likely, definitively in the top-3 most powerful punches Bivol has fought. You can only rate either Canelo Alvarez or Artur Beterbiev ahead of him at 175 pounds'.

Therefore, I give Callum Smith a chance of winning this fight 'he is the underdog, but a live and dangerous title challenger' etc.

Looks like it's a done deal.
Had to make the announcement.
(RIP Ruthie)

KiwiRider post_ wrote:18 Oct 2026, 20:46 Looks like it's a done deal.
Had to make the announcement.
(RIP Ruthie)

I already announced it on the previous page

This is gonna be a one sided pasting. Smithy can't hack it when he steps up.

tigermoth87 wrote: ↑19 Oct 2026, 07:49 This is gonna be a one sided pasting. Smithy can't hack it when he steps up.

He's the ultimate championship gatekeeper. Beats just about everyone else but has no hope at beating the elite champs.

Bakhram Murtazaliev to return on Bivol-Smith undercard

Former IBF junior middleweight titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev is set for his return.

Murtazaliev will face Johan Gonzalez on December 12 as part of the Dmitry Bivol-Callum Smith undercard in Ekaterinburg, Russia, his promoter Kathy Duva told The Ring.

Murtazaliev (23-1, 17 KOs) hasn't fought since a majority-decision defeat against Josh Kelly on January 31 in the United Kingdom. Murtazaliev and Kelly traded knockdowns, but it was "Pretty Boy" who prevailed on the cards in a competitive clash. Murtazaliev, 33, had failed to defend his 154-pound title for the first time following his third-round demolition of Tim Tszyu in October 2024.

Gonzalez (36-6, 34 KOs) is a power-punching, 35-year-old Colombian who comes into the matchup having lost four of his last fights. He has, however, fought top opposition in Jesus Ramos, Yoenis Tellez, Erislandy Lara and the undefeated Hebert Conceicao Sousa last time out in April. Gonzalez also picked up a March 2025 split decision win against former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd, who retired afterwards.

Murtazaliev, a native of Russia, is rated No. 7 by The Ring at 154.

How many world title shots have the Smith family acquired (undeservedly?)?

I’d be interested in the Smith family world title stats…