Callum Smith must decide soon whether he’s going to agree with the WBO’s mandate to defend his interim light heavyweight title against the #2 contender, David Morrell, or choose to vacate the belt.
Smith’s Morrell Mandate: Duck or Fight?
If Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) relinquishes the title to avoid the dangerous fight against Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs), he would be losing his golden ticket to get a lucrative fight against the winner of the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev 3 trilogy match.
Some fans believe that if Callum vacates the WBO to swerve Morrell, he’ll sit and wait for the winner of that fight, hoping that they’ll look in his direction. It’s a weak manner to get the life-changing money from a clash against the Bivol-Beterbiev III, but it beats having to work for the spot by going through the talented Cuban Morrell.
There would be no other way of looking at a move like that other than to label it as old-fashioned fear, grabbing Smith by the backside, causing him to avoid Morrell. Smith would be hoping that the Bivol or Beterbiev fight falls from the sky into his lap to allow him to passively get the mega-million fight without having to tangle with the young Morrell, 27, and potentially get beaten.
The WBO ordered Callum to defend his interim 175-lb title against David Morrell. Their management has until August 20th, 2025, from July 21, 2025, to bang out a deal before a purse bid is ordered.
Smith vs. Morrell: Backbone or Bailout?
It’s understandable why the WBO has decided to order the Smith-Morrell fight. They said it themselves what their rationale is for ordering the fight, saying it’s “in furtherance of keeping the division active” while Bivol-Beterbiev go into their trilogy. The WBO wants its interim 175-lb title-holder [Smith] to be active, not just sitting and waiting for his hoped-for fight against the winner.
Smith’s request for a mandatory shot against WBO champion Bivol has been rejected already. As such, Callum cannot sit on his backside, waiting a year or so for his eventual title shot. He must defend his WBO title against Morrell or give it up to the young, hungry go-getter.
If Smith wants to stay in line, he’s got to show some backbone and face Morrell. If he’s afraid to fight the Cuban, he’ll have to give up his placeholder for the mega-millions title shot.
Last Updated on 07/26/2025
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