Undisputed gentle heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev has been ordered by the IBF to defend in opposition to his necessary Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) of Germany subsequent.
This transfer by the Worldwide Boxing Federation may probably get in the best way of a rematch between Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Dmitry Bivol. If Beterbiev chooses to carry onto his four-belt undisputed championship, he’ll have to defend in opposition to the 26-year-old Eifert subsequent.
Keith Idec experiences that the IBF has ordered the Beterbiev vs. Eifert combat. The IBF’s transfer gained’t make Group Bivol pleased as a result of they petitioned the 4 sanctioning our bodies on Wednesday to have a direct rematch with Beterbiev, arguing that many viewers noticed Dmitry because the winner of their combat final Saturday night time, October twelfth.
This isn’t a combat that followers would wish to see. Eifert is an unknown to most followers, and there can be little curiosity in a conflict between him and Beterbiev.
It’s unknown if Beterbiev will vacate his IBF title or look or give Eifert a step-aside cost to maneuver him out of the best way for Artur’s rematch with Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs).
Eifert’s finest profession win got here in opposition to 40-year-old Jean Pascal, profitable a 12-round unanimous determination final yr on March sixteenth, 2023. The previous WBA and WBC gentle heavyweight champion Pascal was nowhere close to the highest of his recreation in that combat.
The IBF clearly gave Eifert his necessary spot based mostly on his win over Pascal, however that victory wasn’t nice as a consequence of his superior age. It could have made extra sense for the IBF to order a combat between Eifert and Anthony Yarde for a title eliminator slightly than having Pascal because the man.
In 2020, Eifert suffered his solely profession loss, dropping to Tom Dzemski by an eight-round majority determination. A yr later, Eifert avenged the loss, beating Dzemski by a 10-round majority determination.
Final Up to date on 10/17/2024
