The WBO has ordered Callum Smith and David Morrell to contest their interim light heavyweight title.
Morrell is coming off a close and controversial victory over Imam Khatev in New York earlier this month, while Smith had been linked with fighting Anthony Yarde or David Benavidez, who instead fight each other in November.
Smith, 31-2 (22 KOs), is the former super middleweight champion and he’s boxed four times at light heavyweight, including a seventh-round loss to Artur Beterbiev in Canada in January 2024.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri posted on social media that since undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol and Beterbiev are expected to contest a trilogy fight (they are tied at a win each), the WBO is keen to keep the division active.
Olivieri announced that the teams of Morrell, from Cuba and 12-1 (9 KOs), and Smith, have 30 days to reach an agreement or the bout will go out to bids.
