Callum Smith may not return to the ring until late summer following an injury setback, casting further uncertainty over his planned bout with David Morrell.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Smith will require significant recovery time after withdrawing from their scheduled fight in Liverpool. According to Hearn, the injury will take at least six weeks before Smith can resume proper training, making an August or September return the most realistic timeline.
The delay creates a difficult situation for Morrell, who has not fought since July 2025. If the fight is rescheduled for August, the 28-year-old would enter the bout after more than a year out of the ring, raising concerns about inactivity at a crucial stage of his career.
Smith, meanwhile, faces his own challenges. The former world champion has already been inactive since February 2025, when he fought Joshua Buatsi, and would be approaching an 18-month layoff by the time he returns.
Despite Matchroom’s intention to reschedule the contest, no official date has been confirmed. The WBO has also applied pressure, issuing a deadline for Smith to provide a medical report and warning that failure to meet mandatory obligations within the allotted timeframe could result in the title being declared vacant.
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