The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) hasn’t fought since beating Artur Beterbiev in a rematch last February.

In August, as pressure piled for Bivol to face Beterbiev in a rubber match, Bivol tended to a lingering back issue and underwent surgery.

Bivol has been rehabbing in recent months and primarily rebuilding his core muscles. Now healthy again, the 35-year-old from Kyrgyzstan is preparing for a fight this spring, which is believed to be against long-waiting IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.

If Bivol gets past Eifert in what essentially amounts to a tune-up fight, the floodgates will open with an assortment of more palatable options.

“I'm feeling better and I hope I can come back to the ring in May,” Bivol said during The Ring Awards in New York. “I'm enjoying my time in the gym. I'm enjoying boxing again. Last year was very tough for me … [Eifert is] probably one of the fights that we can make. It's an interesting fight. He's a mandatory challenger, and that means he deserves it.

“I'm usually not in a position of power to choose an opponent. I'm usually getting offers for opponents and saying yes … There is David Benavidez. There is Artur Beterbiev. He’s still an option. Beterbiev was the hardest fight of my life and a dangerous opponent. I think he was the most dangerous fighter in all of boxing at the time. If people want to see it for a third time, I want to show it. I don't know what Canelo Alvarez has on his mind. A rematch against Canelo is not too interesting for my goals, but he's still a great fighter.”

Bivol, who’s campaigned as a light heavyweight throughout his entire 12-year career, also wants to become a two-division crownholder before calling it quits.

“I'm open to any fights. I'm open to fighting at cruiserweight. Why not?” said Bivol. “I would like the chance to fight for a belt in another weight class. For my soul, my history, it would be better to move up and become a champion in a new weight class. It's interesting for me [to face the winner of Benavidez-Gilberto Ramirez]. Jai Opetaia is also an option that I have in my head.

“I want to retire by 38 and be more remembered in this sport. I still have the fire and motivation inside of me.”