Unified light heavyweight champion, Dmitry Bivol, undergoes back surgery, pushing his return to the ring to 2026.
Dmitry Bivol, the current IBF light heavyweight champion, has filed a medical exemption with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) after undergoing back surgery, delaying his mandatory title defense against Michael Eifert[1][2][3][4][5].
Bivol's decision to undergo surgery comes after a prolonged battle with a past back injury, which has troubled him for over a decade. This surgery requires 6 to 8 weeks of recovery, pushing back his mandatory defense against Eifert, who has been patiently waiting on the sidelines[1][3][4].
The IBF is now faced with the decision of whether to grant Bivol's medical exemption, allowing him to retain his title during his recovery period. In addition, the sanctioning body is considering the possibility of crowning an interim IBF light heavyweight champion while Bivol recovers, given the flexible rules they have recently introduced for interim title fights[4].
Michael Eifert, with a record of 13-1 and 5 KOs, was the IBF's mandatory challenger for Bivol. However, no official decision or interim title fight has been announced yet.
Meanwhile, Artur Beterbiev, who was initially slated for a trilogy fight with Bivol, has accepted a fight with Deon Nicholson on November 22. Beterbiev won the first meeting between the two, while Bivol took a decision in the rematch.
Bivol's decision to relinquish the WBC title to pursue the trilogy bout has led to David Benavidez being elevated to the full WBC champion[6]. However, with Bivol's recovery period and the uncertainty surrounding his title defense, the trilogy fight between Bivol and Beterbiev will have to wait even longer.
Recently, Beterbiev expressed his frustration on Instagram, stating that Bivol's team took too long to get the trilogy fight done[7]. Despite the delay, Bivol remains optimistic about his recovery and a potential return to the ring in the future.
As of August 2025, the final determination regarding the interim IBF light heavyweight champion remains with the IBF, with no definitive timeline provided for Bivol's return to the ring in 2022.
Sports enthusiasts eagerly await the decision of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) regarding Dmitry Bivol's medical exemption, as it could potentially impact the outcome of a bet on Bivol's title defense against Michael Eifert. The IBF is considering crowning an interim IBF light heavyweight champion while Bivol recovers, adding a new element to the boxing scene.
