Bivol-Smith agree, leaving questions for Benavidez and Beterbiev

By Norm Frauenheim

Light-heavyweight champion Dimitry Bivol agreed to a mandatory against Callum Smith, a move that leaves questions about what’s next for Artur Beterbiev and probably makes David Benavidez’ hopes for a 175-pound bout less likely.

The Bivol-Smith agreement was announced by the World Boxing Organization, which canceled a scheduled purse bid Thursday.

In a statement, the WBO said Bivol, the acronym’s 175-pound champion, and Smith, the mandatory challenger. had reached terms, including date and venue. The announcement, however, included neither the specific date nor venue.

The news was not a huge surprise. Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn, also Smith’s promoter, had been predicting it for months.

Yet, there were questions, in part because Bivol underwent elbow surgery after his last fight, a unanimous decision over German Michael Eifert May 30 in Russia.

The agreement appears to eliminate any chance of a trilogy fight with Beterbiev, who will be 42 years old in January. He and Bivol are 1-1. Beterbiev hasn’t fought since February 2025 when he lost for the first time in a rematch with Bivol, who holds three – WBO, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association – of the light heavyweight belts.

He vacated the World Boxing Council’s version in April 2025, the day before a scheduled purse bid for a fight with Benavidez, then the mandatory challenger.

In a procedural move, Benavidez was moved into the vacancy, a title he later defended with a stoppage of Anthony Yarde November 2025 in Saudi Arabia.

Maybe, Benavidez and Beterbiev could fight. Benavidez still holds the WBC title. But he moved up the scale, taking two cruiserweight titles from Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in a dramatic stoppage in a Cinco de Mayo fight at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Benavidez continues to say he wants to go back down in weight – from 200 pounds to 175 – for a risky light heavy-defense.

For now, at least, that would mean Beterbiev is an option.

As of last week, Benavidez plans were to stay at cruiserweight. He’s already in training in Seattle for a planned defense against Michal Cieslak Dec. 12 in a Phoenix homecoming at Desert Diamond Arena in suburban Glendale, AZ.

Then, the plan, according to father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. is a 2027 Cinco de Mayo showdown against feared Australian Jai Opetaia, a Zuffa fighter who is already calling out Benavidez.