Asked about Smith’s recovery, Hearn said the setback required patience.
“It’s not an injury you can just fight back in three or four weeks,” Hearn said. “It’s an injury that will probably take at least six weeks before you can start training properly again. So with that in mind, you’re really realistically talking about August, September.”
Hearn also emphasized how inactive Smith already was.
“Don’t forget he hasn’t boxed since February 2025, when he boxed Joshua Buatsi. So, it’s a nightmare for him,” Hearn said.
The wait for David Morrell has officially crossed the line from a standard delay to a full-fledged career stall. When the WBO ordered it in July 2025, it felt like the perfect bridge to get the winner in front of the Bivol-Beterbiev winner.
By the time they actually touch gloves in August 2026, we’re looking at 13 months of inactivity for a 28-year-old who should be in top gear.
Morrell is coming off a razor-thin split decision over Imam Khataev last July. It’s the kind of performance a fighter usually wants to quickly follow up to prove it was just an off night. Instead, he was effectively frozen for a year.
While Morrell is 28, Callum Smith will be 36. A 13-month layoff for a prospect is frustrating, but an 18-month layoff for a 36-year veteran is often a career booster. Smith is basically fighting time as much as he is fighting Morrell.
It took 136 days just to reach a basic agreement before the April date was even set. Adding the injury delay makes this one of the most protracted interim title sagas in recent light heavyweight history.
Matchroom is still looking to reschedule the competition, but no date has been confirmed.
The WBO was unusually firm here. By giving Smith a 10-day deadline for a medical report and citing the 180-day rule from the Bivol-Eifert match (scheduled for May 30, 2026), they’re essentially saying that if August doesn’t happen, the belt is gone.
WBO notice: “Mr. Smith is granted 180 days from the Bivol-Eifert bout to fulfill his mandatory obligation… Failure to comply will result in the title being declared vacant.”
If Morrell remains on the sidelines until August, he is in danger of entering the biggest fight of his life with significant ring rust. However, if he takes a busy fight in June, he faces a cut or an upset that will cost him the Smith payday and mandatory status. It’s a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario that usually favors the promoter more than the fighter.
