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Artur Beterbiev has been ordered to defend his IBF light-heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, just a day after Dmitry Bivol requested support from the four major sanctioning bodies for an immediate rematch. This comes after Beterbiev’s controversial split-decision victory over Bivol last weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which crowned him the first four-belt world champion in the division.
Bivol’s team, including promoter Eddie Hearn and manager Vadim Kornilov, expressed outrage over the scoring, with cards reading 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 for Beterbiev. While Bivol himself has not publicly contested the decision, his lawyer submitted a formal appeal to the WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC to back a rematch.
Despite this, the IBF has officially mandated negotiations between Beterbiev and Germany’s Eifert, though the champion can still request an exception for a voluntary defense, potentially allowing a rematch with Bivol.
A second fight between Beterbiev and Bivol remains a possibility, but it hinges on support from the sanctioning bodies if the rematch is to be contested for the undisputed title. This situation mirrors the aftermath of Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury earlier this year, where the IBF also ordered a mandatory defense, leading to Usyk vacating his title.
While the IBF enforces its mandatory rulings, exceptions have been made in the past, keeping hopes alive for a Beterbiev-Bivol rematch, especially given the high stakes and interest surrounding a potential second clash between the two.
