Undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev has been ordered by the IBF to make a mandatory defense against Germany’s Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs).
This move by the International Boxing Federation could disrupt the rematch between Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Dmitry Bivol. If Beterbiev chooses to hang on to his undisputed four-belt streak, he will need to defend against the 26-year-old Eifert next.
Keith Idec reports that the IBF has ordered the Beterbiev vs. Eifert. The action of the IBF will not please Team Bivol because they appealed to the four sanctioning bodies on Wednesday to have a quick rematch with Beterbiev, saying that many viewers saw Dmitry as the winner of their fight last Saturday, October 12.
This is not a fight that fans want to see. Eifert is unknown to many fans, and there would be little interest in a clash between him and Beterbiev.
It is not known whether Beterbiev will vacate his IBF title or look to or offer Eifert a payment to get him out of the way of Artur’s fight with Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs).
Eifert’s best win came against 40-year-old Jean Pascal, winning a 12-round unanimous decision last year on March 16, 2023. Former WBA and WBC light heavyweight champion Pascal didn’t come close to matching his game in that fight.
The IBF apparently gave Eifert his mandatory spot based on his win over Pascal, but that win wasn’t good because of his age. It would have made more sense for the IBF to order a title fight between Eifert and Anthony Yarde rather than Pascal.
In 2020, Eifert suffered his only career loss, an eight-round majority decision loss to Tom Dzemski. A year later, Eifert avenged the loss, beating Dzemski by a 10-round majority decision.
Last updated on 10/17/2024
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