On Saturday evening in Russia, Dmitry Bivol defended his championship titles, but the subsequent statistics belonged to Michael Eifert.
The German challenger left Yekaterinburg with a stigma no one wants after posting what Compubox described as the lowest punch total ever recorded in a 12-round fight.
Bivol dropped Eifert in the first round before picking up a one-sided victory with WBN scoring 120-107.
By the final bell, the result had long been decided, but the numbers related to Eifert’s performance were only just beginning to attract attention.
In a fight dominated by Bivol, who made no mistakes, the consequences were more observable in his opponent’s play.
Historic low
According to Compubox, Eifert landed just 12 punches in all 12 rounds. Throughout the entire fight, he only landed six jabs and six strenuous punches, fired four body shots, and was credited with zero connections in six separate rounds.
Compubox stated: “Eifert landed only 12 total punches in the match, the lowest total in Compubox history in a 12-round fight.”
For a fighter fighting for a world title, the numbers are almost unbelievable.
Dmitry Bivol
This unwanted distinction belongs to Eifert, but Bivol deserves credit for creating the circumstances that produced it.
Returning after a 15-month absence and back surgery, the Russian controlled every aspect of the fight, starting with the first knockdown.
Eifert struggled to land his jab, rarely looked confident enough to throw combinations, and spent most of the contest reacting to Bivol rather than forcing his own fight.
Before the championship rounds, the challenger’s main goal seemed to be to hear the final bell.
Compubox added that Bivol landed 105 punches compared to Eifert’s 12, while also firing 26 body shots.
These numbers would be alarming in any fight, but in a world title fight they are almost unheard of.
RCC Boxing
Problem with the ranking system?
The show also highlights a growing problem with boxing’s ranking system.
Eifert entered the fight as Bivol’s mandatory challenger, despite never defeating a true top-15 lightweight heavyweight challenger en route to his opportunity.
When a challenger lands just 12 punches in 12 rounds and delivers the lowest total ever recorded in a 12-round fight, attention inevitably turns to the process that got him there.
The problem isn’t that Eifert accepted the opportunity. Few players would turn down a chance to become world champion.
The bigger issue is whether sanctioning authorities need stricter standards before handing out mandatory positions, especially if major fights are delayed to accommodate them.
Bivol’s victory keeps him on track for a third fight with Artur Beterbiev, but Eifert’s performance may leave many wondering whether he has done enough beforehand to justify standing in the way of one of boxing’s greatest rivalries.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.
Errol Spence Jr entered the greatest debate of all time, believing that one man deserved to be recognized as the greatest warrior in history.
On a pound-for-pound basis, many seem to consider Sugar Ray Robinson to be the ultimate GOAT, as evidenced by his victories over 10 Hall of Famers.
These triumphs included iconic victories over the likes of Jake LaMotta and Cuban great Kid Gavilan, while the American also avenged his loss to Randolph Turpin in 1951.
Ultimately, Robinson retired with a professional record of 174-19-6 (109 KOs), becoming a multiple-time welterweight and middleweight world champion.
However, despite his extraordinary achievements, others argue that Muhammad Ali – who defeated eight later hall of famers – is actually the uncompromising GOAT.
“The Greatest” retired with a professional record of 56-5 (37 KOs) before sadly passing away in 2016, leaving behind a remarkable legacy both in and out of the ring.
That’s why Spence said Premieres of boxing champions this heavyweight legend Ali is simply the greatest fighter of all time, and his accolades dwarf even Robinson’s.
Meanwhile, Spence, when asked to name the greatest jab of all time, pointed to heavyweight icon Larry Holmes and former two-division world champion Junior Jones.
In terms of punching power, “The Truth” couldn’t pick a winner among Norton, Mike Tyson and Julian Jackson, but quickly replaced Ali as the main GOAT.
When talking about his future plans, Andrade mentioned several top contenders and division champions as potential targets.
“I think the fighters that have to fight, the fights that have to happen, are like, you know, me again, Charlo, me, Berlanga, me, Mbilli, me, Plant,” Andrade told YSM Sports Media. “These are all great fights that could happen, and we’re all in the same age group and the same era of boxing, so I thought, why not do it?”
Plant, Berlanga and Mbilli are looking for a title shot, while a fight between Andrade and Jermall Charlo never materialized during their championship years.
Andrade (32-1, 19 KO) has not fought since a sixth-round loss to David Benavidez in November 2023 and will return after a nearly three-year break. The 38-year-old former champion hasn’t recorded any high-profile victories in recent years and has yet to announce an opponent for his July 24 return at Mohegan Sun Arena.
“I believe 68 is open,” Andrade said. “Boxing needs me back in the ring because there are great fights ahead of us.”
The return comes after a hard period for Andrade. He hasn’t fought since a sixth-round loss to David Benavidez in November 2023. Before that loss, his last victory was in January 2023 against Demond Nicholson.
Although Andrade spent years fighting names like Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin and the Charlo brothers, none of those fights came to fruition during the prime years of his career as a 154- and 160-pound champion.
Andrade is now 38 years elderly and returning after a long break. He is trying to rebuild his position in a division that includes WBC champion Christian Mbilli, former titleholder Caleb Plant and challenger Edgar Berlanga.
Andrade immediately focuses on ending his inactivity and preparing for fights that he believes should have happened years ago.
“My goal is to become world champion in three divisions: 154, 160 and then 168,” Andrade said.
Canelo Alvarez no longer holds the super middleweight world title, but that doesn’t stop many of his 168-pound rivals from targeting him for a fight.
Alvarez lost for the first time at super middleweight when he was overtaken by Terence Crawford last yearbut the 35-year-old will have the opportunity to reclaim the WBC belt upon his return in September when he fights recent champion Christian Mbilli.
A victory will see Canelo enter the next era of the super middleweight division as a man with a target on his back, as a host of fresh operators jostle for a lucrative take on the four-division world champion.
One of those fighters is Diego Pacheco of California, who was ready to fight for the WBO super middleweight title against Hamzah Sheeraz until the latter withdrew his offers and did not allow Sheeraz to fight Al Begic, who was stopped within two rounds by the Briton.
In an interview with ESNEWSPacheco cited his three-man hit list, which included both Canelo and Sheeraz, as well as WBA super middleweight titleholder Jaime Munguia.
“[Jaime] Munguia, [Hamzah] Sheeraz and Canelo, [that is who I want]. I think me and Munguia will go the distance, I will stop Hamzah Sheeraz, and me and Canelo will also go the distance, but I will definitely win all three.
Pacheco recently extended his contract with Matchroom Boxing and hopes to maintain his unbeaten record of 25 fights when he appears on home turf against Immanuwel Aleem on the Cruz-Bell card on Saturday, July 18.
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