Dmitry Bivol is expected to vacate his WBO light heavyweight title in order to pursue a third fight with Artur Beterbiev.
Bivol avenged his previous defeat to Beterbiev by majority decision in February 2025 to become undisputed champion, but later relinquished the WBC belt. He returned in May with a unanimous decision victory over IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.
Callum Smith had been expected to receive the next title shot as Bivol’s WBO mandatory, but promoter Eddie Hearn now believes the champion will choose the Beterbiev trilogy instead.
“I think it’s unlikely he will defend against Smith,” Hearn said. “I think Smith will fight Joshua Buatsi for the vacant title. But Dmitry is ready to make the Beterbiev fight.”
Smith previously defeated Buatsi by decision on the Beterbiev-Bivol II undercard in a Fight of the Year contender.
A rematch between the two British light heavyweights could now take place for the vacant WBO title, potentially headlining the second Matchroom vs Queensberry event in November.
Image Credit: Top Rank Boxing