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Dmitry Bivol planning spring return against Michael Eifert

Dmitry Bivol will look to satisfy his IBF mandatory in his ring return

Vadim Kornilov, manager of unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, tells Lance Pugmire that his charge intends to return in “March or April” against IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.

Per Kornilov, Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) underwent back surgery this past August and intends to return to camp “soon.” Bivol overcame an awful stretch in the middle rounds to claim a majority decision over rival Artur Beterbiev in their February rematch, then vacated the WBC title in the face of a potential showdown with then-interim champion David Benavidez, who went on to smoke Anthony Yarde after being elevated.

Eifert (13-1, 5 KO) is coming up on three years as mandatory challenger after beating Jean Pascal in a March 2023 final eliminator. The IBF ordered Beterbiev to face him after the former’s initial victory over Bivol, but accepted Bivol’s petition for an immediate rematch. I cannot fathom a universe in which he gives Bivol the slightest hint of trouble, but at least it seems like Bivol will take care of it while Benavidez has his cruiserweight adventure against Zurdo.

“I have waited a long time. Now, finally, the IBF has given Bivol a clear deadline,” Eifert said of the opportunity. “I used that time to develop as a fighter in the gym. I am in the shape of my life and ready to shock the world.”

Purse bid delayed til next week.

Deal being sought for Bivol-Eifert title fight as purse bid once again postponed

Dmitry Bivol has begun training camp for what he hopes to be a springtime return to defend his light heavyweight championship.

On the other side of the equation, IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert and his team continue to feverishly work to ensure the overdue title fight moves forward.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that – given the group participation – all parties agreed to once again postpone the oft-rescheduled purse bid hearing. IBF officials agreed to move Tuesday’s session back by seven days, while all involved parties insist that a deal is within reach.

Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs) is represented by Matchroom Boxing and manager Vadim Kornilov. Germany’s Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs) is with SES Promotions and manager Benedikt “Benny “Blanko from the Burg” Poelchau.

Bivol recently celebrated (for the lack of a better term) the one-year anniversary of his last bout, a 12-round, majority decision over Artur Beterbiev last February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The feat saw Bivol become undisputed champion and avenge his lone career defeat. He previously held the WBA title for nearly eight years prior to his October 2015 narrow defeat to Beterbiev, also in Riyadh.

Despite the revenge fueled win to restore his championship status, Bivol has since endured a run of bad luck. First, he was forced to relinquish his WBC title for failure to face then-interim titlist David Benavidez in an ordered title consolidation bout.

Once the IBF was prepared to step in with plans to order its overdue mandatory, Bivol then filed for a medical exception. The two-tour champ underwent back surgery to remove a longstanding herniated disc, which left him shelved for the balance of 2025.

Eifert has been the top-rated IBF contender since his March 2023 upset win over former lineal and WBC champ Jean Pascal. Sadly, he’s only had one fight in that span while waiting for this due opportunity to materialize.

Bivol is out of exceptions to avoid moving forward with the mandatory, really the only leverage that the Eifert team enjoys in this scenario.

Unification isn’t an option; Benavidez is due to next face WBA/WBO cruiserweight titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, 48-1 (30 KOs) on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Furthermore, the IBF ruled that the exception process was long exhausted. Beterbiev previously filed for one shortly after he was ordered to next face Eifert but instead sought to move forward with a promised immediate rematch versus Bivol.

The request was granted, with the two-way understand that the winner had to next honor the overdue IBF mandatory. WBC officials ultimately jumped the line, which put Bivol in the difficult position of ultimately parting with the belt.

Another extension granted as Bivol-Eifert talks drag on for overdue mandatory

At some point, a grown-up in the room needs to take control of this matter.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the IBF has permitted yet another postponement in the Dmitry Bivol-Michael Eifert purse bid process. Tuesday’s session was removed from the calendar, marking the fifth consecutive week where representatives from both sides were permitted extra time to reach a deal – or at least avoid the overdue mandatory light heavyweight title fight being made available to the highest bidder among all IBF-registered promoters.

Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs) – the lineal, RING, WBA, IBF and WBO 175lbs champion - is represented by Matchroom Boxing and manager Vadim Kornilov. Germany’s Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs), is with SES Promotions and manager Benedikt “Benny “Blanko from the Burg” Poelchau.

Talks remain ongoing with the hopes of staging the fight sometime in the spring.

Meanwhile, the matter has left both fighters out of the ring for well over a year.

Bivol has not fought since a 12-round, majority decision over Artur Beterbiev last February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The feat saw Bivol become undisputed champion and avenge his lone career defeat. Beterbiev fully unified the 175lbs division with his disputed points win over Bivol in October 2024.

Their first fight saw Bivol’s WBA title reign end after nearly seven years. He was the sport’s second-longest reigning active titlist at the time of the fight. Beterbiev entered the rematch with the longest current direct line to a sanctioning body title, having held the IBF belt since November 2017.

The rematch was permitted by the IBF, on the condition that the winner next face Germany’s Eifert, who has been the mandatory since a March 2023 win over former lineal champion Jean Pascal. Beterbiev had to file an exception with the sanctioning body to move forward with the considerably more lucrative second fight with Bivol.

Thus, Bivol inherited the IBF mandatory with his win.

He was also required to next face WBC interim titlist David Benavidez. More so, Bivol and his team were thrown for a loop when WBC officials jumped the line and ordered its fight when all the sanctioning bodies agreed the IBF was next in the rotation.

Bivol ultimately vacated the WBC title and was forced to revisit the fight with Eifert. Plans for the IBF to enforce its mandatory were put on hold when Bivol underwent back surgery to remove a longstanding herniated disc, which left him shelved for the balance of 2025.

An attempt to secure an interim title fight for Eifert provided little movement. All told, he’s only had one fight since earning the IBF top spot while his team has patiently waited for justice to prevail.

As has been the case seemingly since the beginning of this process, they now get to wait at least one more week.

“Overdue mandatory?” He has no business being anyone’s mandatory. Eifert maybe lasts six rounds

What the f*ck is Bivol's deal anyway? Why has he just been sitting around for a year?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑03 Mar 2026, 17:38 What the f*ck is Bivol's deal anyway? Why has he just been sitting around for a year?

Hearn forgot about him. Turki never cared for him.

This fight should have been done and dusted by now.

Dmitry Bivol-Michael Eifert eyed for Usyk-Verhoeven card; purse bid canceled

Several weeks later, Dmitry Bivol and Michael Eifert finally found common ground.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that a deal was reached for the IBF mandatory light heavyweight title fight. The development came within 24 hours of a purse bid hearing previously scheduled for this Tuesday, but which was canceled outright as a result.

Fight Freaks Unite’s Dan Rafael first reported that the bout is likely to take place in supporting capacity to the May 23 Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven heavyweight championship fight in the shadows of The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

The matter puts an end to an ordeal that has lingered on for months, with several delays along the way for a variety of reasons.

Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), will attempt his first defense of his second tour as a light heavyweight champion. He has not fought since his majority decision win over Artur Beterbiev in their rematch in February 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The win saw Bivol become the undisputed 175lbs champion, a feat that Beterbiev accomplished with a narrow win in their October 2024 clash, also in Riyadh.

With the victory, Bivol regained the WBA title he previously held for nearly seven years from November 2017 through the first fight with Beterbiev. However, he also inherited mandatory challengers from both the IBF and WBC.

WBC officials wound up jumping the line, as they immediately called for a title consolidation bout between Bivol and David Benavidez, the WBC interim titlist at the time. The matter was due to head to a purse bid, before Bivol vacated the title after an unsuccessful appeal to pause the fight and first negotiate with Germany’s Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs), as the overdue IBF mandatory.

In lieu of subsequently proceeding with a clash versus Eifert, Bivol instead sat out the rest of 2025 after undergoing surgery to remove a herniated disc.

Eifert patiently waited out the process after a failed attempt to secure an interim title fight.

He became the mandatory challenger after a March 2023 points win over former lineal champion Jean Pascal on the road in Laval, Canada. Just one fight has followed for Eifert, along with step-aside compensation as he allowed Beterbiev-Bivol I and II to take place ahead of his own overdue title fight.

The bout was finally ordered earlier this year. To the surprise of nobody, the negotiation period ended without a deal in place, despite confirmation that Bivol opened camp for a planned springtime return.

Attempts to schedule a purse bid hearing were met with five consecutive weeks of permitted extensions, as both sides – Matchroom Boxing and manager Vadim Kornilov for Bivol, SES Promotions and manager Benedikt “Benny “Blanko from the Burg” Poelchau for Eifert – insisted they were closing in on a deal.

That day finally arrived, which means a welcomed sigh of relief for all involved.

Eifert will enter his first career title fight; Bivol is 13-1 (3 KOs) in fights with at least one major title at stake.

I expect Usyk will have a problem with a Russian in the co-main event.

Per sources, unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol's IBF mandatory defense vs. Michael Eifert will not take place on the Usyk card in Egypt as had been in the works. Instead, it will topan RCC Promotions card in Ekaterinburg, Russia, in May on a date to be announced. #boxing

ANNOUNCED: Dmitry Bivol will defend his Ring and unified light heavyweight titles against IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30th in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

DMITRY BIVOL RETURNS MAY 30 AGAINST MICHAEL EIFERT

Dmitry Bivol will return against Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia.

The bout will be held at UGMK Arena in Ekaterina, Russia. RCC Promotions will promote the event. In fighting Germany's Eifert, Bivol will fulfil his IBF mandatory obligation.

“On May 30, I'll be stepping into the ring,” The Ring, WBA, WBO and IBF champion Bivol said. “I promise to put on a beautiful and exciting fight. Two months of hard preparation ahead. I'll be glad to see each of you there!“

It’s been over a year since Bivol last fought. The 35-year-old avenged the lone defeat of his career by defeating Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) in their immediate rematch last February. In doing so, he became the light heavyweight division’s undisputed champion.

With their series tied at one apiece, there were talks of them getting it on for a third time. However, those discussions fell by the wayside as Bivol underwent back surgery.

Since then, Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) has been hard at work getting himself back in shape. If he wanted, he could have chased a bigger name. But, with the IBF ordering him to fight Eifert in July, he decided to make his comeback against the sanctioning body’s No. 1 ranked contender, rather than get stripped.

For Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs), he’s been waiting for a shot at gold since beating former champion, Jean Pascal, in March 2023. He’s fought just once more since that victory, picking up a low-level win against Carlos Eduardo Jimenez in August 2024.

Bivol, who will be a massive favorite, has his eyes on bigger fights. The unified champion has mentioned fighting the likes of David Benavidez. Bivol was stripped of his WBC strap shortly after he was ordered to face Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) in early 2025. Bivol, however, vacated the title to pursue a third bout with Beterbiev. Benavidez, who held the interim version at the time, was immediately elevated. The 28-year-old is currently preparing to take on Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2, but promised to come back down in weight to make a fight with the Russian star happen.

Bivol has also expressed interest in fighting Canelo Alvarez. They initially fought in 2022 with Bivol taking home a close but clear unanimous decision win.

Dmitry Bivol returns in Russia, defends titles against Michael Eifert

Dmitry Bivol to defend titles against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert

Dmitry Bivol will finally be back in action, returning to the ring on May 30 in Russia to defend his light heavyweight titles against Michael Eifert.

The fight had been previously linked to the Usyk vs Verhoeven card on May 23 in Egypt, but instead will headline its own card in Ekaterinburg.

The 35-year-old Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) has been out of action since February 2025, when he won a majority decision over Artur Beterbiev in their rematch in Riyadh. A third fight between the two was tentatively expected for later in the year, but did not materialize. Neither has fought in the year-plus since that second bout between them.

Bivol will defend his WBA, IBF, and WBO titles.

Germany’s Eifert (13-1, 5 KO) is the IBF mandatory challenger and was ordered, finally, for a fight with Bivol last summer. You might recall Eifert winning an IBF eliminator way back in March 2023, so three full years ago, beating a faded Jean Pascal quite clearly on the road in Quebec.

At this point, the 28-year-old Eifert has had an even longer layoff than Bivol, as he hasn’t fought since August 2024, when he took a low-level tune-up fight to try staying at least a little bit active while awaiting his ordered title fight. He’s protected his IBF position since then by simply staying on the sidelines and waiting it out.

RCC Boxing will promote the card, though Matchroom’s logo is also listed on the early fight poster. No word yet whether the fight will stream on DAZN or elsewhere.

Dmitry Bivol Returns May 30 Against Michael Eifert

Dmitry Bivol will return against Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia.

The bout will be held at UGMK Arena in Ekaterina, Russia. RCC Promotions will promote the event. In fighting Germany's Eifert, Bivol will fulfil his IBF mandatory obligation.

“On May 30, I'll be stepping into the ring,” The Ring, WBA, WBO and IBF champion Bivol said. “I promise to put on a beautiful and exciting fight. Two months of hard preparation ahead. I'll be glad to see each of you there!“

It’s been over a year since Bivol last fought. The 35-year-old avenged the lone defeat of his career by defeating Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) in their immediate rematch last February. In doing so, he became the light heavyweight division’s undisputed champion.

With their series tied at one apiece, there were talks of them getting it on for a third time. However, those discussions fell by the wayside as Bivol underwent back surgery.

Since then, Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) has been hard at work getting himself back in shape. If he wanted, he could have chased a bigger name. But, with the IBF ordering him to fight Eifert in July, he decided to make his comeback against the sanctioning body’s No. 1 ranked contender, rather than get stripped.

For Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs), he’s been waiting for a shot at gold since beating former champion, Jean Pascal, in March 2023. He’s fought just once more since that victory, picking up a low-level win against Carlos Eduardo Jimenez in August 2024.

Bivol, who will be a massive favorite, has his eyes on bigger fights. The unified champion has mentioned fighting the likes of David Benavidez. Bivol was stripped of his WBC strap shortly after he was ordered to face Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) in early 2025. Bivol, however, vacated the title to pursue a third bout with Beterbiev. Benavidez, who held the interim version at the time, was immediately elevated. The 28-year-old is currently preparing to take on Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2, but promised to come back down in weight to make a fight with the Russian star happen.

Bivol has also expressed interest in fighting Canelo Alvarez. They initially fought in 2022 with Bivol taking home a close but clear unanimous decision win.

WBO To Order Bivol-Eifert Winner To Fight Smith Or Morrell

Dmitry Bivol’s 2026 might be spent facing mandatory challengers.

After undergoing back surgery in August, The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champ recently announced that he’ll return on May 30 against IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert at UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The Ring has learned that the winner will be immediately ordered to face either David Morrell or Callum Smith.

Smith and Morrell, respectively ranked third and sixth by The Ring, will face off April 18 at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. They’ll fight for Smith’s WBO interim title in Smith’s hometown.

Both Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) and Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) have been inactive. Smith hasn’t been seen since beating Joshua Buatsi on the undercard of Riyadh Season’s “The Last Crescendo” card in February 2025. Cuba’s Morrell hasn’t fought since beating Imam Khataev by split decision on “The Ring III” undercard July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) might not be happy about facing the winner. The 35-year-old hoped after facing Eifert to box WBC champ David Benavidez or take rematches against Artur Beterbiev or Canelo Alvarez.

The Russian star avenged the lone defeat of his career at the hands of Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) in February 2025 and became the division’s undisputed champion.

Shortly after, the Bivol and Beterbiev attempted to make a third fight happen. That rubber match never took place because Bivol opted for back surgery.

Bivol previously defeated Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) in May 2022 by unanimous decision. That victory boosted his profile and popularity.

Although he has never officially fought Benavidez, the two have spent countless rounds sparring one another. Bivol, in early 2025, was ordered by the WBC to face Benavidez, who held the interim title at the time. While he seemed interested, Bivol decided to vacate his strap to pursue a third fight with Beterbiev.

Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) is preparing for a matchup against WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Benavidez has promised to return to the light heavyweight division after challenging Ramirez for showdowns against Bivol and Beterbiev.

Don't wanna see either of them fight Bivol. Benavidez is the most interesting matchup by far.
After that is a third fight with Arthur, but I don't really need a third fight, even though the first two were bangers.

So did Eifert just sit around for over 2 years after beating Pascal?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 23:49 So did Eifert just sit around for over 2 years after beating Pascal?

Three years ago. And yes, pretty much. Pathetic mandatory

Also a pathetic way to handle your career. Stalling and stalling and stalling waiting for a title shot that may not come, getting so rusty while you wait that by the time it comes you ain't even as good as you were before.

Fuk Eifert. Bivol is p4p great and he just wasted more than year of his prime career waiting for this trash fight

How many fights does Bivol have after this? Probably only a handful. A trilogy fight with an old and inactive Beterbiev? A fight against Benavidez or Zurdo? Callum Smith or Ramire? He doesn't have too long to fit all those in before retirement and he's wasted his time when those good fights could become less interesting fights. His inactivity has also allowed his star power for casuals after beating Beterbiev and Canelo diminish.