YEKATERINBURG — Unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is set to defend his world titles against WBO mandatory challenger Callum Smith on December 12. The bout will take place at the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, the same venue where Bivol successfully retained his titles with a points victory over Michael Eifert in May.
Bivol, who previously held the undisputed title before vacating his WBC belt, returned to action earlier this year following a period of inactivity due to back surgery. His upcoming opponent, Smith, is a former WBA super-middleweight champion who has campaigned at 175 pounds since 2020. Smith enters the contest following a nearly two-year layoff, having last competed in February 2025 in a victory over Joshua Buatsi.
Smith’s previous attempt at a light heavyweight world title resulted in a stoppage loss to Artur Beterbiev in January 2024. As Bivol prepares for this mandatory defense, the Russian champion aims to maintain his position at the top of the division, potentially setting the stage for future high-profile matchups.