The WBC has named former champion Callum Smith (pictured) as the new mandatory contender for WBC/IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. Smith replaces Marcus Browne atop the WBC rankings after Beterbiev stopped Browne in a bloody war last month. The IBF mandatory contender is undefeated Fanlong Meng from China, who in theory should get the next mandatory shot at Beterbiev because, in the case of unified champions, the sanctioning bodies usually rotate mandatories. Smith is 28-1, having lost his WBA and WBC titles to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in 2020.