Callum Smith vs. David Morrell: Championship Bout
Callum Smith is scheduled to defend his WBO interim light heavyweight championship against David Morrell on April 18. Set to take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, this bout will be the highlight of a Matchroom Boxing event, also available for streaming on DAZN. This fight marks Smith’s return to his native Liverpool after an absence of over six years.
Callum Smith’s Career Highlights
Smith, boasting a professional record of 31 wins and 2 losses with 22 knockouts, earned the WBO interim title after a unanimous decision victory over Joshua Buatsi in February 2025. Prior to this, he held the prestigious WBA super middleweight title from 2018 until December 2020, when he lost it to boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Smith also ventured into the light heavyweight division, facing Artur Beterbiev in 2023 but came up empty-handed in his pursuit of a world championship.
David Morrell’s Background
His opponent, David Morrell, holds a record of 11 wins, 1 loss, and 9 KOs. The Cuban fighter previously held the WBA (regular) title in two weight divisions but faced a setback when he lost to David Benavidez in February 2025. Morrell rebounded with a contentious split decision victory over Imam Khataev in New York last July.
Significance of the Fight
The outcome of the fight between Smith and Morrell is crucial, as the winner will likely become the mandatory challenger for Dmitry Bivol, the unified champion at light heavyweight. Meanwhile, Bivol has been instructed to defend his title against IBF challenger Michael Eifert, with financial bids for the fight due imminently.
