Connect with us

Boxing

The return of Dmitry Bivol raises doubts before the fight with Eifert

Published

on

Image: De La Hoya: Bivol vs. Benavidez is the Fight to Make, Not a Beterbiev Trilogy

Bivol’s victory over Malik Zinad in Riyad last year did not reassure doubters. Zinad entered the fight with circumscribed reputation value and no major victories over proven rivals. He was seen by many as a replacement opponent rather than as the sort of challenge that would show where the champion stood.

Previously, at the end of 2023, Bivol overtook Lyndon Arthur. Arthur is a capable fighter with solid credentials, but critics viewed this result as a good career win rather than a statement against one of the division’s top fighters.

Then came two fights with Artur Beterbiev. Bivol lost the first match and officially won the rematch by majority decision, but many fans believed the second fight could have ended in a draw. This has caused more debate than certainty as to where he stands at the top of the airy heavyweight division.

Now Bivol will face Eifert after a long period out of the ring and spine surgery. By fight night, he will have been inactive for over a year. For a fighter whose style depends on footwork, balance, timing and controlled movement, inactivity may carry greater risks than for the average boxer.

None of this means that Bivol is over or has been diminished. Elite boxers have made a robust comeback after earlier layoffs. However, this return comes with more questions than multiple title defenses.

Heroes can only live on their reputation for so long. On May 30, Bivol has a chance to prove that, at his level, he can still perform in the present tense, not the past tense.

Still, the 16-month break poses a huge obstacle for Bivol. When he enters the ring in Yekaterinburg on May 30, he will not be circumscribed only by inactivity, but by the physical reality of spine surgery. A herniated disc for a movement-based fighter like Bivol is a different beast than for a stationary slugger.

If these lateral movements, or the characteristic spring in his step, are reduced by even 10%, Bivol’s version of the “elite technician” could become a thing of the past.

It can be said that his resume is largely based on his victory over Zurdo Ramirez in 2022. Since then, the trajectory has been unclear.

Although he received the majority decision in February 2025, it did not exactly end the case. As I noted, many saw Beterbiev draw or narrowly win.

Victories over Malik Zinad and Lyndon Arthur kept the belts balmy, but didn’t provide the drag needed to prove he was still the pound-for-pound threat he was when dismantling Canelo.

Turning 36 is the established drop off a cliff into lighter, speed-dependent weights. Even in the airy heavyweight division, reflexes are usually the first thing to look at.

Michael Eifert is an engaging choice to return. On the one hand, he’s an IBF must-see, so Bivol has to fight him to keep the hardware. Then again, his only real claim to fame is his 2023 decision on the very faded Jean Pascal. He is younger (28) and fresh, but he hasn’t shown the world-class equipment that would normally cause problems for Bivol.

If Bivol fights Eifert or looks sluggish, the talented narrative surrounding the Beterbiev fight will only become louder. Fans are looking for the 2022 version of Bivol, but after repairing his back and four years of aging since his last dominant win against an elite name, we may be looking at a champion fighting on borrowed time.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

Pierce OLeary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights

Published

on

Pierce O'Leary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights

LIVE COVERAGE

World Boxing News provides live results and updates from Dublin as Pierce O’Leary faces Mark Chamberlain at super lightweight.

Queensberry Promotions returns to the 3Arena with an action-packed card headed by the unbeaten Irish star O’Leary, who meets former British champion Chamberlain in the main event.

The undercard also features Gary Cully, Reece Bellotti, Sean McComb, Steven Cairns, Ben Fail and several unbeaten Irish prospects.


Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain Results

Times are Local – IST

17:46

Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the tenth round to improve to 20-2.

Cully overcame a fifth-round point deduction for repeatedly losing his gumshield before dropping Reeves twice in the final round to force the stoppage.

The victory marked Cully’s 11th knockout win as a professional.

17:01

Sean McComb returned with a comfortable six-round points victory over Miguel Antin.

McComb won every round on the referee’s scorecard, claiming a 60-54 decision to improve his record to 22-2.

16:31

Machlan Arthur improved to 2-0 with his second straight knockout by stopping Ryan Frost in the fourth round.

Arthur dropped Frost twice in the final session before the referee waved the contest off at 1:05 of round four.


Remaining Bouts

• Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – IBO World Super Lightweight Title (12)

• Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti – Vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (10)

• Gary Cully vs Lee Reeves – Super Lightweight (10)

• Steven Cairns vs Senan Kelly – Super Lightweight (10)

• Ben Fail vs Craig O’Brien – Super Welterweight (10)

• Bobbi Flood vs Tariq Davis – Super Welterweight (6)

• Adam Olaniyan vs Jonathan Claudio Sauco – Heavyweight (4)

• John Joe Carrigan vs Sean Murray – Super Welterweight (4)

• Sami Hamed vs Bela Istvan Orban – Super Welterweight (4)


Queensberry

Preview

Pierce O’Leary tops a major night of boxing in Dublin as the unbeaten Irishman takes on Mark Chamberlain for the IBO World super lightweight title.

O’Leary enters the contest looking to continue his rise through the rankings against the experienced Chamberlain, who aims to return to winning ways after a draw in his third outing since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.

The chief support sees Royston Barney-Smith meet Reece Bellotti for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title.

Gary Cully also returns in an intriguing domestic clash with fellow unbeaten Irishman Lee Reeves, while Steven Cairns faces Senan Kelly in another all-Irish encounter.

Sean McComb, Ben Fail, Bobbi Flood, Adam Olaniyan, Machlan Arthur, John Joe Carrigan and Sami Hamed also feature on the Queensberry Promotions card.

Updates will be added below as the action unfolds in Dublin, with more live coverage on World Boxing News.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a Dangerman in Conor Benn at 147 lbs

Published

on

Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a "Dangerman" in Conor Benn at 147 lbs

Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan has named one half of the main event between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn as the “dangerman” at 147lbs.

The two welterweights will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12, with Garcia making a first defence of his WBC world title.

He claimed the belt by dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February, which followed his surprising points loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025.

Interestingly enough, this defeat came shortly after his year-long doping ban, which he served on account of testing positive for ostarine ahead of his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.

The result of their showdown was then ruled a no-contest, with Garcia subsequently moving up to welterweight after failing to keep below the 140lb limit.

It now seems the 27-year-old is competing at a more natural weight while Benn, who tested positive for clomifene in 2022, has not made 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden that same year.

Speaking with talkSPORTIrish boxing icon McGuigan suggested that this – as well as the 29-year-old’s technical flaws – could prove a major factor against Garcia.

“[Benn’s] got that genetic code from his dad, and he’s got that explosiveness and everything else. But he is predictable – you can see when he’s going to throw.

“You ask yourself: is Garcia just a little bit too sharp for him? A little bit too cute. I think Garcia’s finally found the weight he’s most suitable [for]. I think he’s a dangerman at 147[lbs].

“Maybe Conor Benn has left it a little too late to make 147[lbs] again. I think that could be his Achilles’ heel. I make Garcia a slight favourite but would never write off Conor Benn – he’s got that fighting heart.”

Benn comes off a unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis in April, which followed his two middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr last year.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot

Published

on

"Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot"

Devin Haney’s immediate future has been thrown into uncertainty after Keyshawn Davis pulled out of their mandated contest on Friday.

The pair had been ordered to collide for Haney’s WBO world title, with Davis having been named as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger at 147lbs.

Multiple reports then suggested that the 27-year-old was offered $3m by Top Rank, his promoter, only for ‘The Businessman’ to reject what would have been a career-high payday.

Subsequently, their bout went to a purse bit hearing, where Top Rank trumped Teofimo Lopez’s Takeover Promotions with a sum of $8,550,000.

This therefore gave Bob Arum’s outfit the promotional rights and, as per the usual 75/25 split in favour of the defending champion, Davis would have been entitled to a share of $2,137,500.

Since Thursday’s auction, though, Davis has excluded himself from the fight and left Haney without an obvious opponent for his first welterweight title defence.

Taking to social mediaWBO president Gustavo Olivieri explained that his organisation must now provide their champion with a solution.

“The WBO hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid proceedings and, accordingly, will NOT participate in the WBO welterweight mandatory championship contest against Devin Haney.

“In light of the foregoing, the WBO Championship Committee and Ratings Committee will convene to proceed in accordance with the WBO world championship rules and regulations. The applicable ruling will be rendered and published in due course.”

At this stage, it remains to be seen whether Haney will be immediately ordered to face a new mandatory challenger or, given the situation, have the opportunity to make a voluntary defence.

Either way, the 27-year-old has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr in November and is surely eager to return to action.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending