Title fight confirmed for December

The long-anticipated light heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith has been officially confirmed. Bivol will defend his WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in the 175-pound (approximately 79 kg) division against Smith on December 12 at the UMCC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The event will be co-organized by RCC Boxing and Matchroom, and broadcast on DAZN.

WBO approval after delay

The two fighters had reached an agreement for this mandatory fight mandated by the WBO as early as August. However, it took nearly two months to obtain regulatory approval from the WBO to allow the fight to take place on Russian soil. The WBO had previously refused to sanction Bivol's title defense against Michael Eifert in May in the same venue due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Titles on the line

Although Bivol (25–1) was not stripped of his titles, the fight was recognized as a non-title event, with only his WBA and IBF titles at stake at that time. It appears that the organizers have now received approval from the WBO, as Bivol's three titles are featured on the poster for his upcoming fight.

Smith's injury struggles

Hindered by injuries, Smith (25–1) has not fought since his victory over Joshua Buatsi in February 2025. On that night, he won the interim WBO title, opening the path to a fight against Bivol. He was scheduled to face David Morrell in April, but had to withdraw after injuring a rib during training.

Bivol's injury history

Bivol has also experienced injury issues in the past two years. After taking his revenge against Artur Beterbiev in February of last year, Bivol underwent surgery to treat a lumbar herniated disc. The 35-year-old boxer ended a 15-month hiatus to defeat Eifert, but had to return to the ring shortly afterward. This time, it was due to an injury to his left elbow, which was treated in July.

Future matchups and recognition

If Bivol defeats Smith, it is planned that he will face Beterbiev next year for a third decisive encounter. Former WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez has also expressed interest in moving down a weight class to face this future Hall of Fame member, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.