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.

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.

Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn appear to be heading towards a showdown, but Eddie Hearn believes the fight’s biggest audience may be on the other side of the Atlantic.

Garcia remains one of boxing’s biggest social media stars and one of the most recognizable boxing names in the United States. Meanwhile, Benn gained a forceful following in Britain. Hearn suggested that the difference could affect the reception of the fight internationally.

“I think it’s a good fight. I don’t think it’s a gigantic fight in America. I think it’s a gigantic fight in the UK. Obviously Ryan is a gigantic star in America. Conor isn’t. Ryan is a bigger star in the UK than Conor is in America, and Conor is a gigantic star in the UK,” Hearn told the media.

Hearn also questioned expectations for the event’s commercial performance, despite the attention Ryan’s name and Benn’s profile received in the UK.

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to be a fight that will draw gigantic numbers, but I like this fight.”

The Matchroom chairman then turned to the boxing side of the match, arguing that 147 pounds favored Ryan and suggesting that Benn was more comfortable carrying the extra weight.

“I don’t think Conor should fight at 147 pounds. I like him over 160 pounds or in that weight class,” Hearn said.

Hearn’s comments highlight a problem that has arisen following discussion of the fight since it emerged. Garcia is a recognizable name in the US, but Benn’s profile is mainly focused in the UK.

Although Benn is one of the better-known dynamic fighters in the UK, much of that recognition comes from his name and fans back home. Hearn suggested the difference could limit the fight’s appeal outside the British market and prevent it from becoming the major transatlantic event some expect.

No official announcement has been made regarding Garcia-Benn yet, although speculation about the fight has increased in recent weeks.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers trustworthy coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.

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Last update: 2026/06/01 at 20:00

Former world champion Keith Thurman weighed in on the impact of Errol Spence Jr.’s three-year layoff. before meeting Tim Tszyu.

The two pairs will face off on July 25 at the 158-pound catchweight division, with Spence making his first start since a ninth-round loss to Terence Crawford.

Their surprisingly one-sided fight saw “The Truth” lose his WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles, with Crawford ultimately becoming the undisputed three-division champion.

However, in an attempt to revive his career, Spence is now preparing to fight former super welterweight world champion Tszyuwho lost his WBO title in 2024 via split decision defeat to Sebastian Fundora.

The Australian was then stopped in the third round by Bakhram Murtazaliev later that year, before suffering a seventh-round stoppage defeat in a rematch with Fundora last July.

Tszyu has also made several changes to his training team over the past year, most recently hiring Australian great Jeff Fenech as his head coach.

Asked by MillCity Boxing about their clash in Australia, Thurman highlighted the 31-year-old’s greater activity as a clear advantage over Spence.

At the same time, however, “One Time” recognizes Spence’s pedigree as an crucial factor in the match against Tszyu, even though the 36-year-old has been out of the ring since July 2023.

“A lot of people see it as 50/50 [fight]. Spence has [had] too much dismissal – this is the biggest question mark.

“When your break is long [and] no one has seen you, they don’t know what version of you they will get.

“They will analyze you based on your last performance – [and Spence’s] the last performance wasn’t very good.

“I think Tim Tszyu has the advantage in performance and Spence has the advantage in pedigree. He was at a different level, he achieved more [than Tszyu].

“But it’s a solid 50/50 [fight]because they both have some questions that need answers.

Indeed, Spence has defeated more world-class opponents and competed at a higher level overall than Tszyu, whose most crucial victory came against Brian Mendoza in 2023.