Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith were the standouts in a massive flurry of boxing information on Thursday.
The WBO has confirmed that its champion, Bivol, and interim titlist Smith have reached an settlement for their mandated gentle heavyweight title conflict, with a date and venue to be confirmed.
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The pair won their belts on the same battle card in February 2025, when Bivol turned undisputed champion by defeating Artur Beterbiev in their rematch, and earlier that night time, Smith upset Joshua Buatsi to take the WBO interim title.
Although 18 months have handed since that memorable battle card, the pair have mixed for just one battle — Bivol’s unanimous resolution win over Michael Eifert in May in Russia.
Smith has been ready for his WBO necessary to be enforced and thus has not fought since. He was announced to defend his belt against David Morrell in April but was compelled out with harm. Morrell determined to battle Zak Chelli a couple of weeks after his bout with Smith was supposed to take place and ended up on the flawed facet of the largest upset of 2026, when Chelli TKO’d him in the ultimate 40 seconds.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom promotes both fighters. Hearn has beforehand informed the media that he would look at staging Bivol-Smith in Russia, Monaco or the UK, with Russia being the frontrunner. There stays a stumbling block to that, though.
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When Bivol fought in Russia earlier this 12 months, the WBO selected not to have its belt on the line because of the ongoing battle with Ukraine. The WBO would have to alter its stance for Matchroom to stage Bivol-Smith in Russia.
Sebastian Fundora and Jermall Charlo to return in October
Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions confirmed Thursday its second non-pay-per-view battle card as half of its new deal with DAZN. The card will also stream on TNT Sports.
In the foremost occasion on Oct. 17 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Sebastian Fundora will defend his WBC tremendous welterweight title against necessary challenger Ermal Hadribeaj.
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Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) turned WBC and WBO champion with his upset win over Tim Tszyu in 2024. “The Towering Inferno” vacated his WBO title in 2025 rather than battle Xander Zayas but has made three profitable defenses of his WBC crown. Fundora was last in motion in March, stopping Keith Thurman in six rounds.
Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KOs) defeated Bakary Samake in May in Germany to earn his necessary shot at Fundora. The Albanian, now based mostly in the U.S., is little identified and will enter his first title problem as a main underdog.
Jermall Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs) was set to battle Koen Mazoudier (16-4-1, 6 KOs) on the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu undercard in July, however Charlo was unable to enter Australia due to visa points. That bout has now been rescheduled for Oct. 17.
Rounding off the triple-header, Brandon Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) places his WBA featherweight title on the line against former WBO bantamweight champion Tomoki Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs).
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Figueroa knocked out Nick Ball in Liverpool, England, in February to claim the championship and become a two-division world champion. Kameda hasn’t fought since shedding a majority resolution to Angelo Leo for the IBF belt in May 2025.
In one of the most intriguing double-headers of 2026 thus far in the boxing world, Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi will meet for the vacant WBA light-weight title, while Ricardo Sandoval will put his unified flyweight crown on the line against mini-flyweight double champion Oscar Collazo, Golden Boy announced Thursday.
The DAZN-streamed battle card will take place on Oct. 10 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
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Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) and Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) are the prime two contenders with the WBA. Schofield was initially named necessary for earlier champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, but with Davis’ extended inactivity and excellent legal points, Schofield was named champion in recess.
Collazo (15-0, 12 KOs) will transfer up two weight lessons to problem for the WBA and WBC flyweight titles and set up his credentials as a pound-for-pound fighter.
Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) upset Kenshiro Teraji in July 2025 to seize both championships and is set to make his first protection this October.
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