Skip to content 
In the wake of David Benavidez’s elevation to WBC light heavyweight champion, Stephen Smith has called on the WBO to follow suit and promote his brother Callum Smith to full world champion status—setting up a potential unification clash with Benavidez.
Callum Smith, the former super middleweight world champion and current WBO interim light heavyweight titleholder, has been on the comeback trail since suffering a defeat to Artur Beterbiev in early 2024. He bounced back from the loss with a terrific performance against the previously undefeated Joshua Buatsi in his last fight.
Callum Smith’s Brother Wants David Benavidez Fight
“First and foremost, Callum and his team have to push the WBO to do the same thing,” Stephen Smith told Boxing News 24. “If Callum gets made world champion, then the next fight against David Benavidez could be for two titles rather than one.”
David Benavidez was upgraded to full WBC light-heavyweight champion recently, after Dmitry Bivol decided to vacate the belt, likely in order to face Beterbiev for a third time. Bivol lost to Beterbiev in their first fight but evened the score in their rematch.
Smith argues that Callum, as WBO interim champion, is now in the exact same position and deserves similar treatment.
“Callum is in the same situation David Benavidez has been in as interim champion, so if the WBO take a leaf out of what the WBC have done, then Callum can be elevated to world champion,” Stephen added.
“It’ll be a unification rather than Callum challenging for the WBC title.”
Smith has claimed his goal has always been to be a two-weight world champion.
A match-up between Smith and Benavidez could also prove to be a decider for the Beterbiev Bivol 3 winner to face next for all the marbles.
“It can then be a semi-final to go on and fight the main man for all of the belts,” Smith concluded.
For now, it’s down to the WBO to decide whether to follow the WBC’s lead and inject fresh momentum into the 175-lb division.
If they do, the light heavyweight landscape could be on the verge of a major shake-up with Callum Smith and David Benavidez right at the centre of it.
