With the clock running out on David Morrell and Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), the WBO has decided to step in.

The sides were given until Friday evening to work out a deal on a 175-pound fight, but they evidently failed to show progress. Thus, the sanctioning body will now move forward with a purse bid.

If they fight, the winner between Smith (the WBO interim titleholder) and Morrell (ranked No. 2) would be in a strong position to challenge champion Dmitry Bivol.

Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), ranked No. 3 by The Ring, has expressed a high level of interest in facing No. 6 Morrell because he considers the Cuban one of the best fighters in the world.

The Liverpudlian is coming off one of his most impressive victories in years, a unanimous decision over the favored Joshua Buatsi on February 22.

Meanwhile, Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) is trying to find himself. The former two-division secondary champion was handed the first defeat of his career at the hands of David Benavidez on February 1, a clear unanimous decision. A few months later, on July 12, he got up from a knockdown to win a controversial decision against Imam Khataev.

He recently parted ways with trainer Ronnie Shields and started working with Ismael Salas.