Get ready for a boxing battle that's been a long time coming, but has now reached a critical stage!
The highly anticipated Callum Smith vs. David Morrell fight, which has been delayed for months, is now being put up for auction by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). This move is a clear indication that all the behind-the-scenes negotiations and extensions have failed to set a date for the bout.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed that Warriors Boxing, representing David Morrell, has officially requested a purse bid for the interim light heavyweight title fight. Olivieri also stated that no fight date has been set, and an official notice for the purse bid will be issued soon.
The interim title, which Smith won in February against Joshua Buatsi, has lost some of its luster as neither Smith nor the current undisputed champion, Dmitry Bivol, has fought since then. This has left the division in a bit of a limbo, with the interim title seemingly becoming less relevant.
So, how did we get here? The fight was initially ordered last July, but progress was hindered by the need to align with the Riyadh Season rather than the open market. Multiple deadline extensions and a canceled purse bid in December, after a provisional agreement, further delayed the process.
The fight was then targeted for a March card featuring Anthony Joshua, but those plans were tragically dashed when Joshua met with a fatal car accident in Nigeria.
Brief talks of including the bout in the January 31 Ring VI card in New York never materialized, leaving the fight without a home. This has raised questions about the commitment of the involved parties to make this fight happen.
Matchroom Boxing, with its limited flexibility due to five scheduled cards between now and February, and Warriors Boxing, operating under the Premier Boxing Champions umbrella with no confirmed fight dates in the first quarter, face different challenges.
The only visible option on the schedule is a tentative March 21 Prime Video pay-per-view event featuring Sebastian Fundora against Keith Thurman. By requesting a purse bid now, the Morrell camp has opted for pressure over patience.
The WBO now has the task of determining whether this move will finally get the fight on the calendar or if it will expose the lack of interest from promoters.
The outcome of this auction will be crucial in determining the future of this division, which has been stagnant for months with a mandated fight still not taking place.
Will this auction breathe new life into the division, or will it further highlight the challenges of getting this fight off the ground? Only time will tell. What are your thoughts on this development? Do you think this fight will finally happen, and if so, who do you think will come out on top?
