BoxRec

Announced: Ben Whittaker will make his return to the ring on April 18th on the Callum Smith vs David Morrell undercard in Liverpool.

The Olympic silver medalist’s opponent has yet to be named.

Peter McGrail has an opponent for April 18 return

Super-bantamweight Peter McGrail will aim to rebound from last year’s close decision loss to Shabaz Masoud with a fight against Argentina’s Ckari Mansilla in Liverpool on April 18.

The fight, for the WBO intercontinental bantamweight title, will be featured on a card headlined by a WBO interim light-heavyweight title fight between Callum Smith and David Morrell.

In December, McGrail, 12-2 (6 KOs), suffered the second loss of his pro career when he challenged Masoud for the European super-bantamweight crown in Monte Carlo. It was a close fight, despite the unanimous decision verdict in Masoud’s favour, and McGrail will have presumably taken a lot from it. Prior to that loss, he had won four fights in a row, beating the likes of Ionut Baluta, Rhys Edwards and Brad Foster.

As for Mansilla, his next opponent, he is, in the tradition of many Argentinean fighters who head to Great Britain, a bit of an unknown quantity. His pro record of 18-4 (13 KOs) might scream inconsistency, yet his one trip to Britain so far – last time out – saw him stop the unbeaten Dylan Price in eight rounds. That fight was last May and perhaps in

WBO To Order Bivol-Eifert Winner To Fight Smith Or Morrell

Dmitry Bivol’s 2026 might be spent facing mandatory challengers.

After undergoing back surgery in August, The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champ recently announced that he’ll return on May 30 against IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert at UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The Ring has learned that the winner will be immediately ordered to face either David Morrell or Callum Smith.

Smith and Morrell, respectively ranked third and sixth by The Ring, will face off April 18 at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. They’ll fight for Smith’s WBO interim title in Smith’s hometown.

Both Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) and Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) have been inactive. Smith hasn’t been seen since beating Joshua Buatsi on the undercard of Riyadh Season’s “The Last Crescendo” card in February 2025. Cuba’s Morrell hasn’t fought since beating Imam Khataev by split decision on “The Ring III” undercard July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) might not be happy about facing the winner. The 35-year-old hoped after facing Eifert to box WBC champ David Benavidez or take rematches against Artur Beterbiev or Canelo Alvarez.

The Russian star avenged the lone defeat of his career at the hands of Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) in February 2025 and became the division’s undisputed champion.

Shortly after, the Bivol and Beterbiev attempted to make a third fight happen. That rubber match never took place because Bivol opted for back surgery.

Bivol previously defeated Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) in May 2022 by unanimous decision. That victory boosted his profile and popularity.

Although he has never officially fought Benavidez, the two have spent countless rounds sparring one another. Bivol, in early 2025, was ordered by the WBC to face Benavidez, who held the interim title at the time. While he seemed interested, Bivol decided to vacate his strap to pursue a third fight with Beterbiev.

Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) is preparing for a matchup against WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Benavidez has promised to return to the light heavyweight division after challenging Ramirez for showdowns against Bivol and Beterbiev.

Callum Smith suffered an injury in training camp and is withdrawing from his light heavyweight fight vs. David Morrell on April 18 in Liverpool, sources tell @ringmagazine.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 12:09 Callum Smith suffered an injury in training camp and is withdrawing from his light heavyweight fight vs. David Morrell on April 18 in Liverpool, sources tell @ringmagazine.

Main event is now Ben Whittaker

tony1234 wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 13:39

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 12:09 Callum Smith suffered an injury in training camp and is withdrawing from his light heavyweight fight vs. David Morrell on April 18 in Liverpool, sources tell @ringmagazine.

Main event is now Ben Whittaker

People will want refunds.

CALLUM SMITH OUT OF DAVID MORRELL FIGHT AFTER SUFFERING INJURY

Callum Smith's scheduled April 18 light heavyweight bout with David Morrell has been called off, The Ring has learned.

Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) was supposed to defend his WBO interim light heavyweight title against the Cuban in his hometown of Liverpool at M&S Bank Arena.

Smith hasn't fought since February 2025 and it's not clear if the bout will be rescheduled. The specifics regarding his injury are unknown.

Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) was set to box outside of the United States for the first time as a pro.

Smith is ranked No. 3 by The Ring at 175 pounds while Morrell sits at No. 6.

The Cuban last competed in July when he eked out a disputed decision over fellow Ring-rated contender Imam Khataev in a slugfest.

Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) lost to David Benavidez in February 2025. The 28-year-old floored Benavidez late in the fight.
It’s unclear if the fight will be rescheduled at this time.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 13:43 People will want refunds.

I would.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 13:55

mickey1975 wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 13:43 People will want refunds.

I would.

I do, but I’ll probably be the only one who does who bought off Leo. I’ll look a twat… the show is staying on because the main ticket sellers are on the undercard, Ste Clark can do all the VIP’s on his own. Smith isn’t a huge seller and Matchroom might even be better off when you take away the main event purses. Plus they can hype the shite out of Whitaker all week.

tony1234 wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 13:39

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Apr 2026, 12:09 Callum Smith suffered an injury in training camp and is withdrawing from his light heavyweight fight vs. David Morrell on April 18 in Liverpool, sources tell @ringmagazine.

Main event is now Ben Whittaker

The promoters should insist Whitaker fights Morrell to save the card

If at the age of 28 he’s not ready for a fringe world level fight then when will he be

David Morrell just called out Ben Whittaker to fight on the April 18th card after his opponent Callum Smith pulled out due to injury

“Ben Whittaker I’m ready to fight April 18th. How are you older than me and still a prospect? Let’s give the fans the fight they want to see!”

It's a fair question. He's only 12-1 too.

Good fight for Whittaker, win win really

Callum Smith-David Morrell off, Matchroom hoping to reschedule

An injury to Callum Smith, endured during the 35-year-old’s final stages of training camp, has ruled him out of his fight with David Morrell.

The contest, which was to be for Smith’s WBO interim light heavyweight title, had been scheduled for April 18 at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. Ben Whittaker’s fight with Braian Suarez, also set for 175lbs, will now be the main event.

“Naturally, it is a massive blow to lose a megafight so close to the event, and we wish Callum a speedy recovery,” said Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.

Birmingham, England’s, Whittaker – “box office in whichever city he fights in,” according to Hearn – is being lined up for an American debut later in the year.

“Ben will be out to show once again why he will be the future of this sport as the eventual ruler of the 175lbs division,” Hearn said.

The 28-year-old Whittaker, a recent acquisition of Matchroom’s, said: “I’m excited… You know what we do, ‘The Surgeon’ is gonna turn up and put on a spectacular performance.”

Morrell, seemingly still keen to compete in less than a fortnight’s time, took to social media to call out Whittaker: “I’m ready to fight April 18th,” he said before noting he was born six months after the up-and-comer. “How are you older than me and still a prospect? Let’s give the fans what they want to see!”

Smith, who at nearly 36 is closing in on the final stages of his career, is understood to be crestfallen at his latest opportunity slipping away. The veteran, 31-2 (22 KOs), reinvigorated his career with victory over Joshua Buatsi in February 2025 and has been hoping to build on that success ever since.

Dmitry Bivol, the unified champion, holds the full WBO title at light heavyweight, a belt he’ll defend against Michael Eifert on May 30 to fulfill his mandatory with the IBF. Bivol also has the WBA belt.

The WBO, via their president Gustavo Olivieri, responded on social media: “The WBO will grant Team Smith a 10-day period to submit a medical report detailing diagnosis, prognosis, recovery period, and expected return to competition.

“Pursuant to WBO regulations, Mr. Smith is afforded 180 days from the Bivol-Eifert bout to fulfil his mandatory obligation against Mr. Morrell. Failure to comply within this period will result in the [interim] title being declared vacant.

“The winner of Smith-Morrell MUST face the winner of Bivol-Eifert to terminate the [interim] status.”

Matchroom, via CEO Frank Smith, confirmed to BS that they will enter discussions with the WBO in an effort to get Smith-Morrell rescheduled.

Smith has suffered with injuries throughout his career but, according to Matchroom, is for now unwilling to divulge the details of his latest setback.

I feel like Callums career has been a massive success financially but a bit of a dud in regards to what he could have achieved. A sign of todays boxing world. And good promoting.

His two best wins are Groves & Buatsi - in 2018 & 2025.

In between them he lost 2.5 times, to Canelo, Beterbiev & maybe The Gorilla and fought four other randos (Hassan 'Dam N'Jikam being the only 'name').

He made less than half of the title defences of Eamonn Loughran. Yet probably earnt twenty times as much.

Good for him & his family but bad for us fans?

He was the best brother too.

I do like Liam towards the end.

Taansend wrote: ↑07 Apr 2026, 15:02 I feel like Callums career has been a massive success financially but a bit of a dud in regards to what he could have achieved. A sign of todays boxing world. And good promoting.

His two best wins are Groves & Buatsi - in 2018 & 2025.

In between them he lost 2.5 times, to Canelo, Beterbiev & maybe The Gorilla and fought four other randos (Hassan 'Dam N'Jikam being the only 'name').

He made less than half of the title defences of Eamonn Loughran. Yet probably earnt twenty times as much.

Good for him & his family but bad for us fans?

I guess the problem is that for the most part, he's been better than everyone else but there have been some very high level champions around. I'd like to see him finally against Morrell, Bivol, Benavidez and Ramirez. Maybe even Sheeraz. There's fights to be made but he doesn't have all the time in the world

Either calum put in one of the worst performances of a canelo opponent, or it was one of canelos best fights.

For me, that night Calum was the epitemy of canelo opponents who were beat before the bell rang.

I agree that has been unlucky to be in the bivol/biev 175 era, but he shat the bed a bit v canelo and has always been inactive. I think he should have more big wins on the ledger.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑08 Apr 2026, 21:17 Either calum put in one of the worst performances of a canelo opponent, or it was one of canelos best fights.

For me, that night Calum was the epitemy of canelo opponents who were beat before the bell rang.

I agree that has been unlucky to be in the bivol/biev 175 era, but he shat the bed a bit v canelo and has always been inactive. I think he should have more big wins on the ledger.

I think he's just not that good. He's the best of his brothers, but that still don't make him the top man in his division. You say it's a shame he was in the Bivol/Biev era, but I don't know that there's an era that has been especially soft he could've done better at any time in recent years.

Who's the softest Light Heavyweight Champions of the last 20 years? Beibut Shumenov I guess? Maybe Tavoris Cloud? Or perhaps Nathan Cleverly?

Generally the #1 guy is a pretty tough customer though.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑08 Apr 2026, 21:17 Either calum put in one of the worst performances of a canelo opponent, or it was one of canelos best fights.

For me, that night Calum was the epitemy of canelo opponents who were beat before the bell rang.

I agree that has been unlucky to be in the bivol/biev 175 era, but he shat the bed a bit v canelo and has always been inactive. I think he should have more big wins on the ledger.

Smith cannot fight short oponents. look at John Ryder fight

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑08 Apr 2026, 21:17 Either calum put in one of the worst performances of a canelo opponent, or it was one of canelos best fights.

For me, that night Calum was the epitemy of canelo opponents who were beat before the bell rang.

No.

From the start. Canelo targeted his arms. After a few rounds, Callum couldn’t even lift his own arma to throw a decent punch.

That was Canelo’s strategy.

It was talked about after the fight too.

Callum showed the bruising on his arms too.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Apr 2026, 01:07

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑08 Apr 2026, 21:17 Either calum put in one of the worst performances of a canelo opponent, or it was one of canelos best fights.

For me, that night Calum was the epitemy of canelo opponents who were beat before the bell rang.

No.

From the start. Canelo targeted his arms. After a few rounds, Callum couldn’t even lift his own arma to throw a decent punch.

That was Canelo’s strategy.

It was talked about after the fight too.

Callum showed the bruising on his arms too.

Yes. Canelo just broke calum down and calum did very little to stop him.