Discussing the situation, Hearn confirmed Smith’s position as the mandatory challenger for the WBO title.

“Now he has been ordered to fight Callum Smith. People are talking about Beterbiev 3 or Benavidez, but Callum has to get his chance, so we will see what happens,” Hearn said on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel.

“We will talk to Dmitry, Vadim and the team. If he decides to fight Beterbiev or Benavidez again, Callum Smith versus Buatsi will fight for the world title, which would be a massive fight.

Hearn stopped miniature of presenting Smith as Bivol’s clear next opponent. Instead, he immediately discussed alternative scenarios and openly outlined a contingency plan involving Smith and Joshua Buatsi if Bivol decided to take a bigger fight elsewhere.

Typically, a promoter with a mandatory challenger will bang the drum, demand a fight, and try to corner the champion. Instead, Hearn immediately changes his mind to: “Well, if he doesn’t want it, we’ll just have this gigantic fight in the country for the vacant belt.”

This shows zero confidence that Bivol will actually take the fight to Callum Smith and honestly why would he? Bivol just returned to form against Eifert and wants those gigantic legacy nights against Benavidez or a Beterbiev trilogy. Hearn probably knows this, so instead of fighting the current, he’s already building a bridge in case Bivol inevitably loses the WBO belt.

Matchroom wins either way. If Smith gets Bivol, great. If Bivol leaves, Hearn will be given a massive stadium-level hit in the UK with Smith vs Buatsi 2 without having to share the pie with outside promoters.

“They laughed when I said I was going to be a professional boxer.” – these were the words written by potential heavyweight fighter Joseph Mesi Jr. earlier this year when he recalled his journey into the professional ranks.

The son of former heavyweight fighter Joe Mesi also revealed that he once weighed 345 pounds and struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts before turning his life around.

Today Mesi Jr. he is 3-0 as a professional and is one win away from helping his family to a perfect overall record of 40-0.

Heavyweight father and son

The elder Mesi retired from boxing in 2007 with an undefeated record of 36-0, after a career that once seemed destined for world title contention.

As World Boxing News has previously covered in its look back on Mesi’s career, the Buffalo heavyweight became one of boxing’s greatest stories when health problems cut low his career just as he was on the brink of contention.

Despite never getting a chance to fight for a world title, Mesi came out perfect with 29 knockouts and victories over names like Monte Barrett, DaVarryl Williamson and former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov.

For years, the 36-0 mark remained untouched. Now it has a second chapter.

A perfect 40-0

Joseph Mesi Jr. he made his professional debut in October 2024 and already has a 3-0 record and two wins after the break.

The 31-year-old heavyweight will return on July 14 in Rochester against an unknown opponent.

A victory would raise the combined record of father and son to 40-0.

Not many boxing families can boast such an undefeated record in the heavyweight division.

Many sons followed in the footsteps of notable fathers and joined the sport. Few did so, carrying the ‘0’ which remained intact for almost two decades before being given the opportunity to continue doing so.

Different meaning

The younger Mesi’s post on social media looks completely different today.

The same man who claims he was ridiculed for wanting to become a professional boxer has already overcome obstacles far greater than skepticism.

Mesi Jr. he had previously spoken about weighing 345 pounds and struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts before finding direction in boxing.

After three wins in his career, he is no longer trying to prove that he belongs in the sport.

Instead, he’s trying to extend a family record that seemed finished when his father retired.

One more win would take Mesis to a perfect 40-0.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Former unified featherweight world champion Gamboa suffered a setback in his comeback fight, dropping a decision to Ecuador’s Alexander Espinoza in Fort Lauderdale.

The 44-year-old Olympic gold medalist was fighting for the first time since losing to Isaac Cruz in 2022 and had previously shared the ring with elite names such as Terence Crawford, Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis during a professional career that failed to reach the level his amateur success indicated.

Though he was ultimately stopped in the ninth, Gamboa showed flashes of a real threat against Crawfordeven hurting the naturally bigger heavyweight champion during his early stages of success. “Bud” later described it as one of the toughest fights of his career.

Gamboa touched the canvas once this weekend and ultimately lost a split decision to Espinoza, who currently holds a record of 21-5-1.

Elsewhere on the card, fellow Cuban great Guillermo Rigondeaux returned to winning ways with a points victory over Chilean veteran Jose Velasquez. The two-time Olympic gold medalist controlled most of the eight-round contest as he continued his career resurgence at the age of 45.

The win was Rigondeaux’s third since 2023, following an outstanding career that included a notable win over Nonito Donaire and high-profile losses to the likes of Vasily Lomachenko and John Riel Casimero.

While Rigondeaux may continue his boxing career at this level, Gamboa’s next chapter appears to be in another combat sport, having recently signed a multi-fight deal with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, where the Olympic gold medalist hopes to become a champion.