WBO Orders Dmitry Bivol to Defend His Title Against Callum Smith

Unified WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has been ordered to make his next title defense against WBO interim champion Callum Smith. The World Boxing Organization officially mandated the bout and has given both camps 20 days to reach an agreement.

The news was confirmed by WBO President Gustavo Olivieri, who explained that the fight is intended to fulfill the organization's mandatory title defense while unifying the full and interim WBO championships.

"In accordance with the WBO regulations and our one-champion policy, the purpose of this bout is to satisfy the mandatory title defense obligation and eliminate the interim champion. The parties have 20 days to reach an agreement. If they fail to do so, the matter may proceed to a purse bid," Olivieri stated.

The 36-year-old Smith earned mandatory challenger status before Bivol's mandatory IBF title defense against Michael Eifert at the end of May in Yekaterinburg.

Bivol comfortably defeated Eifert by unanimous decision, but reports emerged after the fight suggesting that the Russian champion is expected to undergo elbow surgery, raising questions about when he will return to the ring.

Until now, Bivol had been widely expected to pursue a blockbuster showdown with Artur Beterbiev or David Benavidez. However, the WBO's ruling has shifted those plans, making a mandatory defense against Callum Smith the immediate priority unless another agreement is reached in the coming weeks.