Dmitry Bivol Beats Michael Eifert by Unanimous Decision to Retain WBA and IBF Light-Heavyweight Titles
Russian Dmitry Bivol returned from a 15-month lay-off to defeat Michael Eifert by unanimous decision and retain his IBF and WBA belts. All three judges scored the bout 118-107.
espn.comDmitry Bivol defended his unified IBF and WBA light-heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision victory over Michael Eifert in Russia. All three judges scored the bout 118-107. The 35-year-old Russian marked his return from a 15-month lay-off with a dominant display.
Bivol knocked Eifert down in the first round with a heavy left hook. Eifert beat the count and reached the final bell but could not trouble the champion. Bivol's last fight before the lay-off came in February 2025, when he defeated Artur Beterbiev, the only fighter to have beaten him.
Six months after that victory, Bivol underwent back surgery. Bivol holds wins over Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez. The victory over Eifert was his first since the February 2025 bout. With each man holding one win against the other, a trilogy bout between Bivol and Beterbiev could be on the horizon.
WBA (Super) and WBO cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, who recently moved up from light-heavyweight, has also expressed interest in facing Bivol.
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- BBC Sport reported: Dmitry Bivol defeated Michael Eifert by unanimous decision
- BBC Sport reported: The fight was for the IBF and WBA light-heavyweight world titles
- BBC Sport reported: All three judges scored the bout 118-107 for Bivol
- BBC Sport reported: The bout took place in Russia
- BBC Sport reported: Bivol knocked Eifert down in the first round with a left hook
- BBC Sport reported: Bivol was returning from a 15-month layoff
- BBC Sport reported: Bivol's last fight prior to this bout was in February 2025 against Artur Beterbiev
- BBC Sport reported: Eifert completed the full 12 rounds
- BBC Sport reported: Bivol underwent back surgery six months after the February 2025 fight
- BBC Sport reported: Bivol has career wins over Saul Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez
- BBC Sport reported: A trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev is possible
- BBC Sport reported: David Benavidez has expressed interest in fighting Bivol
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