Dmitry Bivol and Michael Eifert will have another 10 days to sort out their differences at the negotiating table.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has agreed to postpone the purse bid hearing for the above mentioned light heavyweight championship clash. The session was due to take place on Tuesday to determine promotional rights for the overdue mandatory title fight.
However, both sides requested an extension which was granted by the sanctioning body. The new hearing is now scheduled for February 13, IBF officials confirmed to BoxingScene via email.
As with the timeline for any purse bid, a deal can still be reached up until the day of – and minutes leading up to – the hearing.
Bivol is with Matchroom Boxing and career-long manager Vadim Kornilov. Eifert fights under the SES banner and is guided by Blanko Sports’ Benedikt “Benny Blanko” Poelchau.
The latest delay is unsurprising, considering how long it has taken for Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs), to receive his title shot. The once-beaten contender from Germany has been the top-rated contender since his March 2023 upset win over former lineal and WBC champ Jean Pascal. He’s only had one fight in that span, mostly due to the several stops and starts in getting his overdue title fight over the line.
Bivo, 24-1 (12 KOs), inherited Eifert as his mandatory after his February 2025 majority decision win over Artur Beterbiev. The win saw Bivol become the undisputed champion and also avenge his lone career defeat to Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), from four months prior.
However, Bivol was caught off guard when the WBC immediately ordered him to next face David Benavidez as the IBF was expected to be next in the rotation. WBC officials stood their ground, and Bivol ultimately vacated the belt in lieu of moving forward with the matchup.
Surgery to relieve a long-standing herniated disc has since kept Bivol out of the ring. He is expected to return in the spring, though would have to settle matters on this particular matchup before he can move forward with that timeline.
Prior to his October 2024 defeat to Beterbiev, Bivol held the WBA title for nearly seven years. He held the second-longest active title reign at the time.
As it relates to this fight, Bivol must commit as he is out of exceptions or options.
Sanctioning bodies will generally allow unification bouts to trump a mandatory but that’s not even an available avenue for Bivol. Benavidez is due to next challenge WBA/WBO cruiserweight titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.
