Smith–Morrell Talks Get Extension After 127 Days Delayed Now

WBO interim light heavyweight champion Callum Smith’s promoters at Matchroom have asked for a one-week extension for negotiations with David Morrell. The #2 WBO-ranked Morrell’s promoters at Warriors Boxing have given their okay for the extension.

127 Days and Counting

The negotiations have dragged on for 127 days since the WBO first ordered the fight on July 21, 2025, giving them 30 days. Now, four months later and two extensions later, Team Smith and Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) still haven’t reached a deal. It’s a pure nightmare getting this fight made.

Morrell Still Waiting

Some fans believe the 35-year-old Callum (31-2, 22 KOs) and his promoters at Matchroom are not eager to face Morrell and have them ruin their dreams of challenging IBF, WBA, and WBO 175-lb champion Dmitry Bivol.

The payday Smith would get fighting Bivol would likely be a career-high in the millions. It would be the perfect retirement present. Unfortunately, Morrell stands in Callum’s way. The way that the negotiations have dragged out suggests that Matchroom is not looking forward to facing the Cuban talent.

Today’s latest extension gives Smith and Team Morrell until this Friday, November 28, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Cuban Nightmare Closing In

Going up against the 27-year-old Morrell is a nightmarish fight for the 6’3″ ‘Mundo’ Smith, as he’s coming off a war with Joshua Buatsi earlier this year on February 22nd in Riyadh. Smith pulled out a 12-round unanimous decision against Buatsi, but it was a brutal affair. He won by the scores 115-113, 119-110, and 116-112.

Morrell is a different kettle of fish, as he’s not going to gas out the way Buatsi did late in the fight. Also, it’s going to be a different version of Morrell than we saw in his last fight against the Beterbiev clone, Imam Khataev, last summer on July 12th in Queens.

Abel Sanchez Turns Morrell Mean

Morrell fought in spurts, covering up and then unleashing bursts of punches that were putting Khataev in trouble. The Cuban former amateur star Morrell now has a new trainer, Abel Sanchez, and he’s expected to be a much different type of fighter than when Ronnie Shields coached him.

Under Sanchez’s guidance, Morrell could be transformed into another Gennadiy Golovkin, a seek-and-destroy fighter. He’s a fighter that Abel trained and turned into a monster at middleweight. An improved Morrell could be too much for the aging Callum Smith.

Re: WBO Purse Bid Lt. Heavyweight (175 lbs) Division
Smith/Morrell

Matchroom Boxing requested a 1-week extension to reach terms. Team Morrell through Warriors Boxing had no objection & therefore, the parties have until Friday, November 28 @ 5pm (AST) to strike a deal. #WBO

— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. (@OlivieriLaw) November 25, 2025