World champion Dmitry Bivol returned to professional activity this Saturday in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The fighter successfully defended his WBA, IBF and The Ring magazine crowns against Michael Eifert.

The victory was achieved by unanimous decision after twelve rounds of dominance in the ring.

Subscribe to DAZN here and don't miss the best of BOXING

The judges delivered final scores of 120-107, 120-107 and 118-107 in favor of the local monarch.

The fight took direction from the first episode, when Dmitry Bivol landed a counterpunching left hook. This impact sent the German boxer directly to the canvas.

Tactical control over the ring

Despite the fall, the challenger managed to get back up and survive the start of the match. From that moment on, Dmitry Bivol managed the pace of the fight using his jab to mark the distance. The Russian neutralized Eifert's offensive attempts with straight and precise blows.

At the end of the fight, the champion evaluated his performance after the long period of inactivity. “I felt strong and fast; the plan was to control the distance and not take unnecessary risks after the surgery,” declared Dmitry Bivol in the official interview broadcast by the DAZN network.

During the middle of the fight, the monarch increased the pressure on his European opponent. Eifert tried to look for openings in the guard, but the push was not enough to overcome the champion's technique. In the final rounds, the Russian's work rate increased again with punishment to the body.

Successful return and future of the division

The 35-year-old fighter dispelled doubts about his physical condition after back surgery. This intervention kept him away from the ropes since February 2025. Dmitry Bivol exhibited the same mobility and combat reading that characterize him in the sport's elite.

With this result, the boxer's record improves to 25 wins and one loss on the rented circuit. The victory clears the way to seek unifications against the biggest names in light heavyweight. Future negotiations could define the direction of the category in the coming months.

The monarch's team is already planning the next steps in the international sports agenda. “We are ready for the big cards, be it a third fight with Beterbiev or the challenge against Benavídez,” said Dmitry Bivol's manager in statements collected by the specialized portal BoxingScene.

The clash against David Benavídez gains strength after the recent unification of the Mexican-American at cruiserweight. Benavídez has expressed his interest in facing the 175-pound leaders. For now, the champion fulfilled his mandatory IBF defense without showing excessive physical wear.