According to Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, unified light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is likely to pivot away from a mooted rubber match with Artur Beterbiev.<\/p>\n
The two Russians first collided in October 2024, back when Beterbiev emerged with a majority decision victory and became the undisputed king at 175lbs.<\/p>\n
An eagerly-anticipated rematch then materialised just over four months later, with Bivol exacting his revenge and winning by the same margins of 116-112 and 115-113.<\/p>\n
A trilogy showdown was therefore expected to be in play, only for Bivol to undergo back surgery and remain out of action until last May.<\/p>\n
This successful ring return saw him defend his IBF, WBO and WBA titles with a shutout points victory over Michael Eifert, while Beterbiev has not climbed through the ropes since losing their rematch.<\/p>\n
Still, it seemed their trilogy match was explored for later this year or in early 2027<\/a>, only for Hearn to suggest that Bivol is more likely to face mandatory challenger Callum Smith.<\/p>\n The Matchroom boss revealed this update via his Instagram story, just over a month after Bivol was ordered to defend his WBO belt against Smith.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udca5 Eddie Hearn provides Matchroom updates on IG:<\/p>\n 1\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83d\udc40 Callum Smith-Dmitry Bivol likely to be next \u2014 All Out Boxing (@OutBoxing_) August 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Like Beterbiev, Smith has not fought since February 2025, back when he unanimously outpointed Joshua Buatsi in a Fight of the Year candidate.<\/p>\n He was, of course, supposed to face David Morrell last April, only for the 36-year-old to pull out with an injury and leave his Cuban opponent to suffer a shock defeat against Zak Chelli.<\/p>\n But it now seems that Smith, who currently holds the WBO \u2018interim\u2019 belt, is set to secure his stab at becoming a two-weight world champion against Bivol. The pair, both represented by Hearn\u2019s Matchroom, have until August 20 to strike a deal before purse bids are called.<\/a><\/p>\n
2\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83e\udd4a Catterall has received two other big fight offers since talk of Haney fight
3\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83d\udd1c Bam to unify in Nov.\/Dec.
4\ufe0f\u20e3 \u2705 Vuong recently released
5\ufe0f\u20e3 \u270d\ufe0f New signing TBA this week pic.twitter.com\/kDHhPBIIBs<\/a><\/p>\n