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Dmitry Bivol’s WBO light heavyweight title won’t be on the line vs Michael Eifert on May 30 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, per a letter from WBO president Gustavo Olivieri obtained by The Ring’s @MikeCoppinger

The WBO won’t strip Bivol, though. The WBA and IBF titles will be on the line along with The Ring championship at 175lbs

This also creates an odd situation if Eifert somehow pulls off the massive upset, where he would have two titles and Bivol would still be WBO champion. At least both fighters will now save some money with the move.

WBO title not on the line for Dmitry Bivol-Michael Eifert on May 30

Dmitry Bivol's WBO light heavyweight title won't be on the line vs. Michael Eifert on May 30 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
That decision has been made due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, per a letter from the organization’s president Gustavo Olivieri, obtained by The Ring.

The WBO won’t strip Bivol though, and will recognize the contest as a non-title bout. The WBA and IBF titles will be on the line along with The Ring championship at 175 pounds from UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back. The operation was performed in August and was followed by a six-week rehabilitation program.

Bivol, 35, lives in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He is The Ring’s No. 5 on its pound-for-pound list and last competed last February in Riyadh, when avenging defeat by Artur Beterbiev in a thrilling rematch to claim undisputed status.

In March 2022 at a press conference for his fight vs. Canelo Alvarez, Bivol called the conflict “really sad for me.”

"I have a lot of friends in Ukraine. I have a lot of friends in Russia. My family is in Russia. Every day I wake up and read the news and I hope it will stop."

Beterbiev defeated Bivol via controversial decision when they met in October 2024.

Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) is the IBF’s mandatory challenger. The 28-year-old German scored his most notable win in March 2023 when he outpointed former champion Jean Pascal.

Bivol’s last fight in Russia was in December 2021, a successful title defense against Umar Salamov.

WBO: Bivol or Eifert must fight Callum Smith next

Callum Smith can thank Zak Chelli for simplifying his path to a title shot.

The Ring has learned that Smith, the WBO interim light heavyweight champion, is next in line to face Dmitry Bivol, who also is The Ring, IBF and WBA 175-pound champion, should he beat Michael Eifert on May 30.

According to WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, however, there have been preliminary talks to stage an undisputed bout with Bivol at the end of this year. Or Bivol could opt for a third fight vs. Artur Beterbiev. Both options would be much more lucrative than Smith.

If Eifert, the IBF mandatory, were to pull off a major upset, Smith will be ordered to face him instead.

Although Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) beat Joshua Buatsi for the secondary title last year, he needed to beat David Morrell to get Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs).

Chelli took care of that for him last weekend by upsetting Morrell by KO.

Smith and Morrell had been scheduled to fight April 18 in Liverpool, with the winner getting a mandated crack at Bivol. However, Smith, a former super middleweight champion, was forced to withdraw because of an unspecified injury during training camp.

Instead of waiting, Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs) opted to stay busy and face Chelli in Manchester.

Morrell dominated, but in the ninth he was rocked. In the 10th and final frame, Chelli stopped the Cuban in the waning seconds.

As a result, Morrell, who was ranked No. 1 in the WBO, lost his position in the sanctioning body.
Bivol beat Smith on points as an amateur.

Bivol Vs Smith and Beterbiev Vs Benavidez then winners face off before they all retire (not Benavidez) with a shed load of cash?

The fact that Bivol and Beterbiev haven’t fought since February 2025 is very concerning. Before that they had their first meeting in October 2024.

So Yh it was a quick turnaround.

I don't need to see Bivol vs Smith, but Benavidez vs Beterbiev would've been nice (maybe instead of the Zurdo fight).
I guess Beterbiev is waiting for Bivol though, if not, he is wasting his time for nothing. Dude is 41 already.

Sendo Takeshi wrote: ↑15 May 2026, 10:58 I don't need to see Bivol vs Smith, but Benavidez vs Beterbiev would've been nice (maybe instead of the Zurdo fight).
I guess Beterbiev is waiting for Bivol though, if not, he is wasting his time for nothing. Dude is 41 already.

Smith is quite clearly the 4th or 5th in the division. It's not a terrible fight if it has to happen.

Would love to see Bivol vs Smith

bivol would beat smith handily, not many exciting options left for bivol at 175

joshj909 wrote: ↑15 May 2026, 11:02

Sendo Takeshi wrote: ↑15 May 2026, 10:58 I don't need to see Bivol vs Smith, but Benavidez vs Beterbiev would've been nice (maybe instead of the Zurdo fight).
I guess Beterbiev is waiting for Bivol though, if not, he is wasting his time for nothing. Dude is 41 already.

Smith is quite clearly the 4th or 5th in the division. It's not a terrible fight if it has to happen.

That's because of how bad light heavyweight is right now.
Bivol would eat Smith alive.

He can take Ramirez's 0 when it comes to me.
Undefeated and good knockout power.

Fight Week!!

He beat Canelo and Beterbiev
Never been stopped
Solid stay at home boxing ability, good chin. decent punch, varied defensive capabilities
Quality conditioning
Beterbiev 1 challenged him

Where are they weighing in ?

Evander wrote: ↑27 May 2026, 00:42 Where are they weighing in ?

Where? Probably Russia.

Day before the fight.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 May 2026, 04:03

Evander wrote: ↑27 May 2026, 00:42 Where are they weighing in ?

Where? Probably Russia.

Day before the fight.

Thanks, you have been very helpful

Full credit to Bivol for taking this defence back to his homeland, his first fight there since 2021.

He knew that there were more profitable locations available and that Russia is currently at war with the entire western world.

All of it including its various sports media outlets.

Eifert will get his big chance this Saturday, May 30 at the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg, apparently the fourth largest city in Russia.

Bivol will be the favourite but Eifert at 28 has 7 years age difference in his favour and with only 15 pro fights couldn't have timed this better.

Hopefully the 15 month rest has enabled Bivol to recover from his 2 epic clashes with Beterbiev as well the numerous long term injuries he's said to be carrying.

There’s that and there’s no one wants to really see this fight.

Just needs to fulfil mandatory. And he has a team in Russia that can make the fights for him.

Dmitry Bivol and Michael Eifert under light heavyweight weight limit ahead of title clash

Light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will end his 15-month layoff tomorrow when he takes on Michael Eifert in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Both fighters made weight Friday, with Bivol tipping the scales at 174.4lbs and his challenger coming a smidge lighter at 174.3lbs.

Russia's Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), has not fought since beating Artur Beterbiev in a rematch last February. That bout came four months after Beterbiev had won an equally close majority decision.

Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs), gets his shot after climbing to the top of the IBF rankings following a 2023 upset win over veteran Jean Pascal. The German, however, is given little chance of victory this time.

The WBO will not sanction the contest because Eifert is not in their top 15.

Fight night!!

Date: Saturday May 30, 2026
Location: Ekaterinburg, Russia
TV/Stream: DAZN

Start Times
DAZN: 4 pm BST | 11 am ET | 8 am PT (Main Card)

Promoted by: RCC Boxing / Matchroom Boxing

Fight Card

Unified IBF & WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Dmitry Bivol vs. Michael Eifert

12 Round Super Bantamweight Bout
Mukhammad Shekhov vs. Yerny Betancourt

12 Round Middleweight Bout
Vadim Tukov vs. Sebastian Horacio Papeschi

10 Round Welterweight Bout
Sergey Lubkovich vs. Michael King

10 Round Featherweight Bout
Vsevolod Shumkov vs. Christian Barreda

10 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Nikita Zon vs. Nahuel Gonzalo Garcia

8 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Sharabutdin Ataev vs. Saipaier Rouzi

6 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Gor Khachatryan vs. Valery Oganisyan

6 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Konstantin Mishechkin vs. Oleg Misiura

6 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Matvey Dotsenko vs. Shugaib Nasrullaev

Main Event is about to start, for those interested.
I hope he goes after the ko, like he did with Ziam anf Arthur.