Callum Smith Signs for Dmitry Bivol Title Fight as RCC Confirms December Date in Russia

Callum Smith has signed the contract to fight Dmitry Bivol for the WBO light heavyweight championship, promoter RCC Boxing announced on October 7, moving one of the division's key mandatory bouts a step closer to reality.

RCC Boxing chief executive German Titov told the organization's press service that lengthy negotiations with Smith's team had concluded and the necessary documents were signed. The promoter said it will stage the championship bout in Yekaterinburg, Russia, with December 12 named as the planned date — wording that leaves the timing provisional until final confirmation.

Smith is Bivol's WBO mandatory challenger and holds the organization's interim title, which he claimed by outpointing Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh in February 2025. The camps had already notified the WBO of their agreement back in August, avoiding an ordered purse bid; today's announcement formalizes the deal and attaches a date and venue.

For Bivol, it is another mandatory obligation rather than the marquee night he wanted. The unified champion, who holds the Ring, WBA, IBF and WBO belts at 35 years old, returned from a 15-month layoff for back surgery to beat Michael Eifert in May, and had openly targeted a trilogy with Artur Beterbiev or a showdown with David Benavidez before the year was out. Neither is happening — at least not yet.

One significant hurdle remains: the WBO has not sanctioned a title fight on Russian soil since introducing restrictions after 2022, and a decision on whether to approve Yekaterinburg is expected this week. If the bout goes ahead, Smith gets a second crack at the full light heavyweight crown after falling short against Beterbiev. Beat Bivol, and the 175-pound division is turned on its head.