British WBO interim light-heavyweight champion Callum Smith and Cuban contender David Morrell have been ordered to face each other by the WBO in a high-stakes contest. Despite WBO president Gustavo Olivieri’s assertions of needing the division to remain active, the basis for the WBO’s current champion, Dmitry Bivol, to not need to be required to face Smith due to an unconfirmed rematch with Artur Beterbiev sets a dangerous precedent given the third Bivol vs. Beterbiev bout is not for undisputed and does not make Bivol suddenly exempt from his mandatory duties.

The WBC arguably made the best move a couple months ago by ordering Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KO’s) and WBC interim light-heavyweight (175 lbs) champion David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KO’s) to face each other, which culminated in Bivol vacating his WBC title and Benavidez becoming elevated to WBC champion.

Yet the WBO, largely known for being the most consistent sanctioning body, seems to have a different definition of how to keep the division active by allowing Bivol to face Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KO’s) in a potential third fight that has yet to be announced or confirmed.

Notably, Bivol now has grips over three of the four world titles; the WBA, WBO and IBF titles which he won ― alongside the WBC belt ― in a second fight against Beterbiev in February.

Unlike the first two fights between Bivol and Beterbiev, a third fight would not be an undisputed bout and be less relevant, as well as not warrant any sort of exemption for Dmitry Bivol to avoid facing WBO interim champion Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KO’s) who is arguably the best candidate to fight for a title.

Beterbiev does currently occupy the #1 position on the WBO’s 175-pound rankings but has not been confirmed as the mandatory challenger, placing Smith ahead when it comes to a potential title challenge due to his grasp over the interim belt.

According to the WBO’s latest press release and president Gustavo Olivieri’s assertions, Smith and Cuban contender David Morrell (12-1, 9 KO’s) ― who’s currently rated at #3 in the WBO’s light-heavyweight rankings ― have been ordered to begin negotiations for a title bout to “keep the division active”.

“It is a matter of public knowledge that WBO 175 lbs. Champion Bivol is on course for a trilogy vs. Beterbiev,” Olivieri stated on social media yesterday.

“Therefore, in furtherance of keeping the division active, the WBO is ordering Callum Smith vs. David Morrell. The parties will be granted 30 days to reach an agreement or purse bid proceedings will be ordered. Negotiation order is forthcoming.“

Despite assertions from Olivieri that Bivol and Beterbiev are heading into a trilogy bout, something that has been speculated since the two wrapped up their February 22nd bout, neither fighter are yet scheduled this year with Artur Beterbiev even having claimed Bivol was stalling and thus preventing a third bout between the two in an effort to age him out.

With no actual rematch set in place, the WBO has unfortunately put itself under the spotlight by ordering Smith vs. Morrell which is considered a high-stakes bout for both fighters; with Smith arguably getting the short end of the stick by facing a dangerous contender rather than getting an immediate deserved title shot.

Interim titles contain a spotty history in boxing, often appearing to prevent the holder to gain an opportunity to fight the beltholder of the full world title rather than outright grant it, with the only real benefit being the potential promotion to world champion if the incumbent champion’s title is relinquished for whatever reason.

In the case of Smith, the interim title seems to once again prove that those belts are mere placeholders that actually prevent title shots, and further threatens Smith to be deprived of becoming a world champion if he were to lose in a potential bout against Morrell.

Interestingly, the manner in which rematches are taken into account clearly differs per sanctioning body with the IBF having given Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KO’s) no exemptions when he was ordered to face then-IBF interim champion Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KO’s) after becoming undisputed at welterweight (147 lbs) by beating Errol Spence Jr.

Then in the midst of a highly-anticipated rematch with Spence, Crawford was swiftly stripped of his IBF title as the sanctioning body stated to not recognize contractual obligations in regards to rematches ― the virtual opposite of the WBO who does appear to hold these sort of arrangements into account.

Notably, the WBO never ordered Bivol and Smith to face each other, creating an uncertain premise in the sport where sanctioning bodies appear to be inconsistent with their mandates and appear to use their own rules to either enforce or neglect obligations for certain fighters ― depending on whose interests they are interested in upholding.

Infamously, Benavidez himself has been subject to such inconsistency with the WBC’s well-known efforts to not order Canelo Alvarez to face David Benavidez still counting as one of the most egregious displays of corruption in boxing.