Now official: Bivol defends against Callum Smith in Yekaterinburg on December 12
Matchroom has confirmed the fight for Dmitry Bivol’s light heavyweight titles. Britain’s Callum Smith is the WBO mandatory challenger.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Dmitry Bivol will defend his light heavyweight titles against Callum Smith on December 12. Matchroom Boxing confirmed the fight on Monday, according to Boxing News. The venue is the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg, where Bivol beat Michael Eifert in May.
It is Bivol’s mandatory defence for the WBO, with Smith as mandatory challenger. The former WBA super middleweight champion has campaigned at light heavyweight since 2020. He was stopped by Artur Beterbiev in January 2024 and has since won two fights, including against Joshua Buatsi in February 2025.
Bivol became undisputed by beating Beterbiev in their February 2025 rematch and later gave up the WBC belt. A Smith win would be an upset, according to Boxing News – and would likely derail a possible Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy.