The ingredients for a triumphant return to the ring from back surgery after over a year out of the ring were in place when unified Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol got back into the ring to defend his IBF/WBA/IBO crown as well as recognition from Ring Magazine as Light-Heavyweight world champion to face number one IBF contender Michael Eifert on May 30th at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Although this observer does not personally like to use the term “Comeback Fight" due to it being dismissive of the opponent of the fighter that is making the " Comeback,” particularly when in this case, ot a world championship bout and Eifert was the IBF’s number one contender, perception did indeed become reality.
Before what looked to be a sell out crowd, Bivol quickly showed that he did not miss a step after being out of action for more than a year to address a lingering back injury, which required surgery. From the opening bell, the two-time World Light-Heavyweight champion seized command of the fight.
Bivol scored a knockdown of Eifert in the first round with a perfectly timed left hook to the head that sent the lunging challenger down to the canvas. While in recent years Dmity Bivol had developed a reputation as a master boxer of the highest caliber, this fight gave an early impression that this might have been a return to the “Knockout Artist” reputation that the champion had developed several years ago.
This was due to not only the fact that Bivol scored a knockdown of his opponent early in the contest, but specifically because Bivol essentially landed whenever he wanted and it became clear early that though Eifert was very “Game," he did not have the skillset or punching power that could turn the fight suddenly in his favor. To word things differently, there are levels in combat sports not just in regard to weight classes, but in terms of caliber of opponent. In this case, Michael Eifert was outclassed by a master of the craft of Boxing and took a too steep step up in caliber of opposition, as Bivol dominated every round and Eifert had trouble landing anything significant on the champion. Although the contest was decided early, to his credit, Michael Eifert made it to the final bell in going twelve rounds with the future Hall of Famer Bivol, who retained his unified world championship via unanimous decision.
If there is a criticism here for a world champion coming off a long layoff due to injury and putting forth a near flawless performance, it could be that Bivol did not force the issue to where he may have been able to get a knockout. Whether one chooses to criticize him for that, perhaps the goal here beyond fulfilling his commitment to face a mandatory challenger as far as the IBF is concerned in this go around of mandatory title defenses that all world champions must fulfill annually, was to get some rounds in and work off the ring rust as well. After all, it is not an enjoyable experience rehabilitating from any injury and in this case, going the distance may have been more beneficial for Bivol in the long-term than if he had scored a quick knockout, though the latter would have obviously been more attention-grabbing.
In terms of what's next, most would say a third encounter with Artur Beterbiev, who is the only fighter to defeat Bivol and vice versa would seem to be the most logical option given they split two fights between them. Obviously, from a business standpoint as well as a financial one, it would seem to make the most sense, but given Bivol holds three world titles in the Light-Heavyweight division currently, it will be interesting if he opts to do another mandatory defense before a third fight with Beterbiev takes place.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
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