Callum Smith Expects Dmitry Bivol To Honor WBO Mandatory

The interim champion says everything he has heard points to Dmitry Bivol defending his unified light heavyweight titles once he recovers from elbow surgery

Callum Smith believes Dmitry Bivol intends to defend his unified light heavyweight titles against him instead of vacating the WBO belt. The interim champion says negotiations should begin after Bivol undergoes elbow surgery later this month.

“I always assumed he’d vacate because I heard the trilogy was happening with Beterbiev,” Smith said to talkSPORT Boxing. “But from what I’m hearing, he wants to fight me next. So fingers crossed we can get it all sorted over the line, and we can get a fight on.”

The WBO recently ordered Bivol to face interim champion Smith, with the winner expected to move forward as the division’s leading champion after months of inactivity caused by injuries and mandatory obligations.

Smith acknowledged the lengthy wait has been frustrating after spending much of the past 18 months on the sidelines.

“It’s probably going to be the longest I’ve had out the ring,” Callum said. “He had an operation on his back, then he had to take care of his IBF mandatory before the WBO one was called. It’s kind of a backlog. That’s the problem when one fighter becomes undisputed. The mandatories line up, and you’ve got to wait your turn.”

Despite entering the fight as the underdog, Smith said he remains convinced he can dethrone Bivol if he performs at his best.

“As a fighter, I always believe in myself,” Smith said. “I believe at my best I can beat anyone in the world, and I still stand by that.”

Smith dismissed the notion that Bivol’s victories over Artur Beterbiev, who stopped Smith in 2024, mean he has little chance of winning.

“Styles make fights in boxing,” Smith said. “Just because A beats B and B beats C doesn’t mean A beats C. I’ve got to go in there, use my skills, use my attributes and make sure the best version of me turns up.”

Former world title challenger Paul Smith also expects the fight to happen, arguing that Bivol has consistently faced every mandatory challenger placed in front of him.

“History would suggest that he will take that fight in a heartbeat,” Paul Smith said. “If you’ve got your interim champion there, that’s what he has to do to keep hold of those titles. So I believe that fight will happen next.”