Why do you think Dmitry Bivol vacated his WBC Light Heavyweight title and chose to pursue a trilogy fight with Artur Beterbiev instead? Sure, legacy and payday play a big role. But let’s not forget—while that matchup could settle the score with Beterbiev, a fight with David Benavidez would’ve answered a different question: Who’s the more powerful fighter? Is it the younger, undefeated Benavidez? Or the man who handed the Mexican star Canelo Alvarez his second professional loss? Looks like fans will have to wait for that answer—because Bivol didn’t give us the chance to see it happen.
Now, most people expected Bivol to go after the trilogy, especially since HE Turki Alalshikh was pushing for it. And when HE Alalshikh’s involved, you know the payday is bigger. Bivol knows exactly what he’s doing—he saw a way to hit two targets with one shot: legacy and money. So he vacated his WBC title, paving the way for the interim WBC Light Heavyweight champion to be elevated to full world champion on April 8th.
That same newly crowned champion, fresh off humbling David Morrell earlier this year by unanimous decision, is now searching for his next opponent. And guess what? Eddie Hearn is already here with some good news. The Matchroom head honcho recently told Boxing News that talks are in motion for a potential showdown between David Benavidez and former world champion Callum Smith.
What’s making all of this even more exciting is the improved dialogue between promoters. Hearn specifically praised the better working relationship at the moment he has with the PBC, which promotes Benavidez through Sampson Lewkowicz. Hearn and Luis DeCubas Jr. (a manager with a close working relationship with PBC) are apparently working on a few cross-promotional fights—including Benavidez vs. Smith. “We’re talking to Luis about Benavidez against Callum Smith, about Dalton Smith against [Alberto] Puello, [Mark] Magsayo against Rocky Hernandez,” Hearn said. “We could put a whole card together and it’s great for the sport,” he added.
As for Benavidez-Smith? Hearn’s all in. “We’re discussing that fight with Luis. No firm offers made but tell me another fight that Benavidez could make,” Eddie Hearn questioned. “That light heavyweight division is actually quite thin at the top in terms of big names. I think Callum’s got great options ahead. He’s going to be mandatory to Dmitry Bivol. You’ve got the potential [Anthony] Yarde fight on a 5v5. You’ve got the Benavidez fight. It’s really interesting and I think David Benavidez against Callum Smith is a hell of a fight.”
But here’s the million-dollar question: while David Benavidez and Matchroom are down for the fight… does Callum Smith actually want it?
David Benavidez’s opponent has too many options
While Callum Smith’s got a golden ticket in his back pocket as the WBO interim champion (and a guaranteed title shot once those belts start to break apart), he’s not just sitting around waiting. Nope. He’s ready to risk it all for a fight with David Benavidez. On the Toe2Toe podcast, Smith kept it real. “I think that’s a great fight, to be fair. It’s a fight that’s always…we were both champions at 168 pounds, it was spoken about but it didn’t quite happen,” he stated.
Boxing – Callum Smith v Lenin Castillo – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – September 25, 2021 Callum Smith before his fight against Lenin Castillo Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
And he’s not wrong. David Benavidez has been on a tear, proving time and time again that he’s down to fight anyone, anywhere. Smith sees that, and he’s game. “He’s getting better and better. He’s shown he wants to fight anyone, regardless of who. If that fight is offered and it makes sense, then definitely, further down the line maybe it could be a unification fight.”
But that’s not all Smith has on his radar. He’s also eyeing to move up a division. In cruiserweight. Specifically, he’s got his sights set on a showdown with WBC Cruiserweight Champion Badou Jack, who defends his title on May 3rd in Riyadh against Ryan Rozicki. “I’d love the Badou Jack fight,” Smith told Sky Sports. “It’s a fight that I would take given the opportunity.”
So yeah. Callum Smith is keeping his options wide open. Whether it’s a war with David Benavidez at 175 or chasing legacy with a third world title at cruiserweight, he’s ready to roll. The only question now is… which path does he take first?
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