Dmitry Bivol Targets Spring Return With IBF Mandatory Next

Unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is targeting a return to the ring in March or April, with an IBF mandatory defense against Michael Eifert emerging as the most likely next step.

The update was first reported by BoxingScene, with details provided in a report by Lance Pugmire.

Bivol has not fought since February 2025, when he defeated Artur Beterbiev in their rematch to claim the undisputed championship. The extended absence that followed was tied to back surgery in August, which sidelined the 35-year-old champion for the remainder of the year and delayed any immediate title obligations. His team has indicated that the recovery process has gone as expected, with no reported setbacks.

The undisputed reign proved brief. Bivol later vacated the WBC title, which was awarded to David Benavidez, while retaining the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts. With the IBF now pressing for its mandatory defense, attention has turned to Eifert, who has held the No. 1 position for more than a year.

Eifert, a German contender, has also been inactive. He has not competed since August 2024, remaining on the sidelines while waiting for his title opportunity through the sanctioning process. His most notable win came in 2023, when he defeated former champion Jean Pascal, a result that elevated him to mandatory status and kept him in position.

Bivol’s camp has indicated that training is expected to resume shortly in Kyrgyzstan. No venue or date has been finalized, and no alternative opponents have been publicly discussed, signaling that the mandatory route remains the clearest path forward at this stage.

With Benavidez scheduled to face Gilberto Ramirez later in the year, Bivol’s decision to address his IBF obligation first allows him to maintain control of his remaining titles while easing back into activity.

It is a practical move, given where he is right now.