AND STILL 👑 Dmitry Bivol retains The Ring, WBA and IBF

Dmitry Bivol made a successful return to the ring on Friday, effortlessly outclassing mandatory challenger Michael Eifert over 12 one-sided rounds in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The scores – 118-107 across the board – flattered the overmatched German, who was dropped by a sharp counter left hook inside the opening three minutes. Bivol, now 25-1 (12 KOs), was simply operating on a different level. His educated jab and balletic footwork allowed him to cruise without ever stepping on the gas, a performance that simultaneously showcased his sublime skills and left fans craving a genuine test. The frustration is nothing new. Since schooling Canelo Álvarez in 2022, Bivol has been widely recognised as a pound-for-pound elite. Last February, he evened his fierce rivalry with Artur Beterbiev via majority decision, cementing his place at the top of the light heavyweight division. Against Eifert – whose IBF No. 1 ranking stemmed from a win over a faded Jean Pascal – there was never any intrigue. The WBO refused to sanction the mismatch, and the action quickly validated that decision. Bivol stung Eifert to the body repeatedly and punctuated rounds with crisp right hands that hurt the challenger virtually every session. Yet, as he has done so often against overmatched foes, the champion refused to chase the knockout. He does what he does, and on this night, that meant a near-shutout victory that felt more like an exhibition than a legitimate world title fight. Photo: Ring Magazine

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