Unified light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will undergo surgery on his injured left elbow July 4, and will return to fight his WBO top-ranked contender Callum Smith, BoxingScene learned Thursday.
The WBO is expected to order Bivol-Smith Friday.
Bivol, 25-1 (12 KOs), through his promoter Matchroom Boxing, has informed the WBO of the plans after Bivol returned from a year–plus absence connected to back surgery and defeated Michael Eifert by unanimous decision May 30.