After weeks of speculation, Callum Smith has signed a contract to fight Dmitry Bivol in an eagerly anticipated December clash.
From venue disputes to WBO rulings, the process to find Bivol's next opponent was a long time in the making, but it's WBO mandatory challenger and interim champion Smith who is set to test the Russian's resolve in December.
Bivol's manager, Vadim Kornilov, claimed that talks were ongoing for a trilogy fight with Artur Beterbiev for April or May of next year, while David Benavidez's name has also been mentioned, but first the three-belt world champion will have to defend his strap against the 36-year-old Liverpudlian.
RCC Promotions -- who are set to come together with Matchroom Boxing to promote the fight -- reported: "WBO Light Heavyweight mandatory contender, WBO World Interim Champion from the United Kingdom Callum Smith signed the official contract to fight a unified world champion, Dmitriy Bivol.
Despite suggestions that the fight wouldn't be able to take place in Russia, CEO of RCC Boxing Promotions German Titov declared that the light-heavyweight clash will commence in Bivol's home nation.
He said: "RCC Boxing will promote this fight and it will happen in December in Ekaterinburg. As we mentioned earlier, the date is planned to be December 12th."
Bivol returned to action for the first time in over a year when overcoming Michael Eifert in May, and while he successfully defended his WBA (Super), IBF, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles, the WBO refused to sanction the Eifert contest as a world title affair due to ongoing conflict in Russia.
Months after Bivol's unanimous decision victory victory over Eifert, the WBO ordered the Russian to defend his strap against Smith -- who became the WBO interim light-heavyweight champion with a win over Joshua Buatsi in February 2025.
Rumours have circulated that the proposed venue in Ekaterinburg may have to be revisited to allow the WBO strap on the line, but confirmation that the bout will take place in Russia suggests that the governing body have sanctioned the contest as a title clash.
In addition to the WBO title, Bivol is set to defend his WBA, IBF, and The Ring light-heavyweight straps in December.
Victory for Smith would see him become a two-weight world champion, having defeated George Groves to win the WBA (Super) super-middleweight title in September 2018.
