Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith WBC Order Delays Undisputed Hopes At 175
According to the Daily Star, the WBC has ordered unified champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19KO) to face mandatory challenger Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-1, 21KO), thus putting undisputed against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol on hold.
In November 2022, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman hit the news cycle by announcing the winner between Beterbiev and WBO mandatory Anthony Yarde must face Smith next. Boxing fans were given some hope that undisputed would happen when the unified champion called out Bivol after stopping Yarde.
RELATED: Artur Beterbiev Wants Undisputed Bout: “I Want Bivol!”
Smith, a former WBA super middleweight champion, has bounced back nicely after losing to the undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez in 2020. Following that loss, the 32-year-old Brit decided to test the waters in a new division. In August 2022, he earned the right to face Beterbiev after defeating Mathieu Bauderlique in a WBC eliminator.
SMITH MORE THAN LIKELY WON’T STEP ASIDE
Fans hoping Smith steps aside to allow the undisputed fight to happen are in for a disappointment. Mundo was set to face Pawel Stepien on March 11 but withdrew due to an injury. In an interview with iFL TV, Smith explained his shift to focusing on fighting for the championship.
The WBC is giving both parties a deadline of April 11 to negotiate a deal before ordering a purse bid. Smith is promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, as is Bivol.
The two promoters tend to have a love-hate relationship as they have worked together in the past. With undisputed being the final destination, fans can expect this may go to a purse bid as both promoters will want to have the upper hand.
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