Smith Withdraws from Morrell Title Fight Due to Injury

Callum Smith, the WBO interim light heavyweight champion, has withdrawn from his scheduled title defense against David Morrell Jr. due to an injury sustained during training camp, forcing organizers to reshuffle the main event for the April 18 card at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.

The 35-year-old British fighter, who captured the interim belt with a unanimous decision victory over Joshua Buatsi in February 2025, was set to face the undefeated Cuban-American contender in a bout ordered by the WBO more than four months earlier. Negotiations dragged on for 136 days before an agreement was reached, only for the fight to collapse 12 days before the bell. Matchroom Boxing, the event promoter, confirmed the withdrawal on April 6, noting that Smith would not disclose specifics of the injury but expressed disappointment at missing the opportunity to advance toward full championship status at 175 pounds.

In response, the WBO issued a statement granting Smith's team 10 days to submit a certified medical report outlining the diagnosis, prognosis, recovery timeline, and expected return to competition. Under regulations, Smith has up to 180 days from the outcome of Dmitry Bivol's May 30 defense...