The long-discussed showdown between Callum Smith and David Morrell is officially heading back to purse bid again after both sides allowed yet another WBO deadline to pass without an agreement. The sanctioning body confirmed that promotional rights will be determined at a December 4 hearing.
Matchroom Boxing, representing Smith, requested a last-minute extension on Tuesday morning. Warriors Boxing, who handles Morrell, did not oppose the request, but the added time led nowhere. It marked the second time in two weeks that the order expired without resolution, pushing the WBO to re-enter the fight into the purse bid circuit.
Smith currently holds the WBO interim light heavyweight title, earned in February with a unanimous decision over countryman Joshua Buatsi on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol’s revenge win against Artur Beterbiev. The victory positioned Smith as a mandatory-in-waiting, though the title rotation has left him idle since.
Morrell has kept busier and survived tougher nights. After losing a competitive but clear decision to David Benavidez in their February unification of secondary titles, he rebounded in July with a gritty win over previously unbeaten Imam Khataev, overcoming a knockdown to edge a 10-round decision.
The WBO ordered Smith–Morrell earlier this year, hoping to clean up its interim situation as Bivol still holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts. With the IBF overdue to enforce its own mandatory and the WBO eager to stay on schedule, there is renewed urgency to finalize the matchup.
Image Credit: Ready To Fight