Eddie Hearn confirms contract offer for David Benavidez vs Callum Smith later this year

Eddie Hearn has confirmed Matchroom have received an official offer from PBC regarding a light-heavyweight world title showdown between Mexican powerhouse David Benavidez and former WBA title-holder Callum Smith.

Smith reignited his world title aspirations by producing arguably the most polished performance of his career to inflict a first career defeat upon Joshua Buatsi on the blockbuster Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 card in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

The Liverpudlian's success in the Middle East captured him the WBO 'interim' light-heavyweight title, and thrust him firmly into contention for a crack at either Bivol or the equally as feared WBA titlist Benavidez.

The unbeaten 30-year-old has been chasing an undisputed clash with Bivol himself, but the fact that the Kyrgyzstani remains locked in dialogue with Beterbiev over a trilogy showdown appears to have forced his hand somewhat.

It was revealed last month that Smith and domestic foe Anthony Yarde had emerged as the two leading contenders to take on the former super-middleweight world champion should a colossal clash with Bivol fail to materialise.

And speaking to FightHype this past weekend, Matchroom supremo Hearn has now confirmed that it is indeed his charge, Smith, who has been targetted by the 'Mexican Monster'.

"We’ve had an offer from PBC, for Callum (Smith) to fight Benavidez, we’re negotiating with them at the moment - it's a great fight!" the Matchroom supremo said.

We all know that Benavidez is a great fighter, it’s not an easy fight at all, but Callum was the Ring Magazine champion at 168 pounds and he’d love another shot at the title.

- Eddie Hearn (FightHype)

"There’s no easy championship at 175 - you’ve got [Dmitry] Bivol or Benavidez, so there is a very good chance that Callum will take that fight with Benavidez.

He added: "We’ll be making our decision over the next one or two weeks."

It's expected that the formalities of the deal will be boxed off before the end of the month with Las Vegas being mooted as the likely destination for the showdown.

The potential clash would represent a return to action for Benavidez who recorded a convincing points victory over David Morrell back in February - an outcome that solidified his elevated light-heavyweight status.

He has continuously teased a potential switch to cruiserweight in the future as he seeks to further etch his name into the sport's history books by becoming a three-weight world champion - although for now, he appears set to resume his quest for undisputed glory in the stacked 174lbs division.

Benavidez had hoped that Beterbiev, who was heavily beaten by Bivol in their rematch, would walk away from discussions for a third fight, and subsequently open the door for him to take on the 34-year-old for all of the light-heavyweight marbles instead.

But with the Russian having provisionally agreed to a third fight with his light-heavyweight foe, Benavidez has now turned his attentions towards Smith, with an October date reportedly being negotiated between the two parties.

Mark Mothershaw

• Matchroom
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