Bivol's Clock Is Ticking: 8 Days to Cut a Deal With Callum Smith

Dmitry Bivol has eight days to make up his mind. The WBO has granted a final extension through August 20 for the 25-1 (12 KO) unified light-heavyweight champion to strike terms with mandatory challenger Callum Smith. If the two camps can't agree, purse bid proceedings will be held on August 27 in San Juan, Puerto Rico — and Bivol loses control over how this plays out.

The order stems from the WBO's push to clean up its own division. Smith, 31-2 (22 KO) and ranked second at 175, currently holds the organisation's interim belt, and the governing body wants that clutter gone under its one-champion-per-division policy. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri said the committee had granted the parties one last window before the auction house opens.

Why the Delay

This isn't the first extension. Bivol underwent elbow surgery after being ordered to face Smith last month, which earned him breathing room, and the WBO has now stretched that grace period a second time. But the leniency has limits. Come August 20, either the deal is done or the belts go to the highest bidder on the 27th.

The complication is that Bivol has other plans in mind. A trilogy with Artur Beterbiev keeps resurfacing, and it's easy to see why — Bivol edged their February 2025 rematch by majority decision to become undisputed, avenging the only loss on his ledger. Beterbiev, now 21-1 (20 KO) and sitting unranked, would relish a rubber match. One version of events sees Bivol simply vacate the WBO strap to chase Beterbiev again.

What Vacating Would Mean

If Bivol walks away from the WBO title, Smith would likely be elevated to full champion and become a two-division world titleholder, having previously reigned as WBA super-middleweight king. It's a tidy consolation for a fighter who beat Joshua Buatsi on the cards to earn this position in the first place.

For context on how thin Bivol's recent schedule has been: he's boxed just once since the Beterbiev rematch, a unanimous decision over IBF mandatory Michael Eifert in May. He also let the WBC crown lapse two months after unifying, with David Benavidez — now 32-0 (26 KO) and campaigning as WBO and WBC champion at cruiserweight — the beneficiary. The point is simple. Bivol keeps collecting belts and then handing them back, and the WBO is done waiting to find out which way he leans this time.