The Callum Smith-David Morrell interim title fight is back on the auction block.
WBO officials confirmed that Warriors Boxing, on behalf of Cuba’s Morrell, has called for an immediate purse bid to rectify the status of the long-ago ordered secondary 175lbs title fight. The development comes days after BoxingScene reported that the bout was stuck in a holding pattern after plans fell through to stage the fight in March.
“WBO confirms written request from Warriors Boxing, on behalf of David Morrell, requesting purse bid proceedings for Interim Lt. Heavyweight title vs Callum Smith to be conducted,” WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed to BoxingScene and other media outlets on Sunday. “No definitive bout dates have been established.
“An official purse bid notice, including the applicable provisions, as well as the date, time, and venue, is forthcoming.”
Liverpool’s Smith, 31-2 (22 KOs), claimed the secondary version of the WBO light heavyweight belt in a February 22 points win over countryman Joshua Buatsi. The bout took place deep on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol’s win over Artur Beterbiev in their undisputed 175lbs championship rematch.
Neither Bivol nor Smith have fought since then, which all but invalidates the need for an interim titlist. Bivol is now due to return to the ring sometime in early spring, likely versus IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.
The fact that Smith remains without a fight date all but invalidates the point of his holding a secondary title.
Smith-Morrell was ordered last July, shortly after Morrell returned to the win column after a hard-fought, 10-round decision win over unbeaten Imam Khataev. The bout took place on a Ring Magazine show, financed by publication owner and Riyadh Season head Turki Alalshikh, with whom Matchroom Boxing – Smith’s promoter - enjoys a stellar relationship.
It has become clear that placement of Smith-Morrell has become entirely dependent on Riyadh Season funding.
The bout was due to land on a targeted show in March that was to have been topped by former two-time unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua. Those plans understandably changed when Joshua was involved in a horrific car accident which resulted in the death of two close friends and team members last December in Nigeria.
However, it does not explain why this fight cannot otherwise find a home.
Several extensions and purse bid postponements were granted in the five months since this fight was first ordered. The matchup was once rumored to land on the January 31 Ring VI show in New York City, for which Matchroom Boxing is the lead promoter. However, any such talk was nothing more than false hope for this affair.
Matchroom is also the lead promoter for five other cards from this weekend through February 28.
That said, Warriors Boxing could do its part to step up and take control of the fight.
However, the company largely does business under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) umbrella and is clearly hamstrung by PBC’s absence of any fight dates in the first quarter of 2026. There are tentative plans for PBC to stage a March 21 Prime Video pay-per-view event, which would house the rescheduled Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman WBC 154lbs title fight. Beyond that, the well is dry as PBC’s immediate future remains clouded in uncertainty.
Whatever the case, the Morrell side has sought reinforcement to advance the boxer’s career. It’s now up to the WBO to find the right promoter – whether the ones already involved or an external source - to get this fight on the schedule.
