Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs), The Ring’s No. 6 fighter pound-for-pound, was fighting for the first time since beating Artur Beterbiev by majority decision in their rematch in February 2025 to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion. Bivol hadn’t fought since while recovering from back surgery.

Bivol’s WBO title wasn’t on the line after it didn’t sanction the bout. Eifert (13-2, 5 KOs), of Bautzen, Sachsen, Germany, was the mandatory challenger for Bivol’s IBF title.

After a measured start, Bivol caught Eifert with a sharp counter left hook that sent the 28-year-old stumbling to the canvas just beyond the midway point of the first round. Eifert stayed on his back foot for the duration of the round while Bivol maintained his patient approach en route to winning 120-107 on all three judges' scorecards.

Bivol, 35, of Tokmak, Kyrgyzstan, was the much quicker and sharper of the two. He countered Eifert with clean shots, particularly with his straight right hand, whenever he tried to press the action. Defensively, Bivol masterfully managed range and made Eifert routinely miss.

Bivol began to pick up the pace in the fifth round, as he fought more aggressively and landed with blistering jabs and straight right hands that split Eifert’s guard. After coasting for much of the next four rounds, Bivol forced the issue again in the final minute of the 11th and appeared to hurt Eifert to the body. He picked up where he left off in the 12th, but Eifert survived to the final bell.

Bivol’s options for his next fight are clear — a trilogy bout against Beterbiev or WBC light heavyweight and unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) to crown an undisputed light heavyweight champion.

Bivol and Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) split their two meetings, and the latter hasn’t fought since their second bout. Beterbiev, 41, won the first fight by majority decision in October 2024.

Benavidez, a 29-year-old from Phoenix, made his intentions known that he’d like to face Bivol or Beterbiev on Mexican Independence Day weekend in Las Vegas.

Benavidez, who is The Ring’s No. 5-ranked fighter pound for pound and No. 1 at light heavyweight and cruiserweight, became the unified cruiserweight champion with a dominant sixth-round knockout of Gilberto Ramirez on May 2.

On Friday, the WBC named Benavidez as the mandatory challenger for Noel Mikaelian, who regained the cruiserweight title in December with a unanimous decision win over Badou Jack in their rematch.

Unified champions being enforced as the mandatory challenger for another sanctioning body is a rarity, though, the WBC making Benavidez the mandatory for Armenia’s Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) could be a sign that the third bout between Bivol and Beterbiev is likely next.