Dmitry Bivol to Defend Unified Titles Against Callum Smith in Russia

Dmitry Bivol is putting his unified light heavyweight titles on the line against Callum Smith on December 12.

If fighting Bivol was not already a daunting enough task, Smith has agreed to do it at the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Going to Russia in the middle of December to fight one of the most technically flawless boxers on the planet sounds less like a prize fight and more like a punishment for finishing last in your fantasy football league.

Bivol has made a career out of making world-class fighters look like they are sparring underwater. His distance management and jab are an absolute nightmare to deal with on a good day, let alone in his own backyard.

Smith brings legitimate power and size to the ring, but he is walking into a fortress. You can expect the betting markets to treat Bivol as a massive favorite once the lines open, and for good reason.

The stakes are massive for the top of the light heavyweight division. A win for Bivol keeps his unified belts intact and keeps the door open for even bigger undisputed clashes down the road.

We will find out on December 12 if Smith can pull off the ultimate winter upset, or if Bivol is just going to add another clinical, soul-crushing decision to his resume.