Asked about Smith’s recovery, Hearn said the setback requires patience.
“It’s not an injury that you can just fight again in three or four weeks,” Hearn said. “It’s an injury that will take probably six weeks minimum till you can start training again properly. So with that in mind, you’re really talking about August, September realistically.”
Hearn also stressed how inactive Smith has already been.
“Don’t forget he hasn’t boxed since February 2025, when he boxed Joshua Buatsi. So, it’s a nightmare for him,” Hearn said.
The wait for David Morrell has officially crossed the line from a standard delay into a full-blown career stall. When the WBO ordered this back in July 2025, it felt like the perfect bridge to get the winner in front of the Bivol-Beterbiev victor.
By the time they actually touch gloves in August 2026, we are looking at 13 months of inactivity for a 28-year-old who should be in his highest gear.
Morrell is coming off a razor-thin split decision win over Imam Khataev last July. That’s the kind of performance a fighter usually wants to follow up on quickly to prove it was just an off night. Instead, he’s effectively been frozen for a year.
While Morrell is 28, Callum Smith will be 36. A 13-month layoff for a prospect is frustrating, but an 18-month layoff for a 36-year-old veteran is often a career-ender. Smith is basically fighting time as much as he’s fighting Morrell.
It took 136 days just to reach a basic agreement before the April date was even set. Adding the injury delay on top of that makes this one of the most drawn-out interim title sagas in recent light heavyweight history.
Matchroom still wants to reschedule the contest, but no date has been confirmed.
The WBO has been uncharacteristically firm here. By giving Smith a 10-day deadline for a medical report and citing the 180-day rule from the Bivol-Eifert bout (scheduled for May 30, 2026), they are essentially saying that if August doesn’t happen, the belt is gone.
WBO notice: “Mr. Smith is afforded 180 days from the Bivol-Eifert bout to fulfill his mandatory obligation… Failure to comply will result in the title being declared vacant.”
If Morrell stays on the sidelines until August, he risks entering the biggest fight of his life with significant ring rust. However, if he takes a stay-busy fight in June, he risks a cut or an upset that would cost him the Smith payday and the mandatory status. It’s a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario that usually benefits the promoter more than the fighter.
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