Dmitry Bivol will defend his unified light heavyweight titles against Callum Smith on Dec. 12 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, it has been confirmed.
Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) will put his IBF, WBO, WBC and Ring belts on the line with Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) looking to become a two-division world champion having previously held the WBA belt at super middleweight.
The fight was ordered as a mandatory title defence by the WBO.
Both fighters are coming off a period of relative inactivity. Smith hasn't fought since Feb. 2025, on the undercard of the Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev rematch, beating Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Brit was scheduled to fight David Morrell in April but was forced to withdraw with an injury.
Bivol, who has had his own injury issues, has fought once since last February, beating Michael Eifert in May.
Smith has just two defeats on his professional record -- to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in 2020 and Beterbiev in 2024.
While Smith is next, Bivol has his sights set on more mega-fights should be get past the Brit, telling 'Inside the Ring' that clashes with David Benavidez, Canelo and Beterbiev are on his wish list.