Instead of a purse picture, the camps of challenger Michael Eifert and champion Dmitry Bivol have now made nails with heads for their fight, as a boxing insider reports.
Michael Eifert can be happy. If boxing journalist Dan Rafael is to be believed, the German light heavyweight (13-1-0, 5 knockouts) will finally get his right to challenge IBF world champion Dmitry Bivol (24-1-0, 12 knockouts). As reported by the Boxing Insider at X, the purse bid scheduled for today has reportedly been canceled. “They have informed the IBF that an agreement has been reached and the fight will take place on May 23rd as part of the DAZN PPV card Usyk vs. Verhoeven in the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt,” Rafael writes, referring to an unnamed “source”.
Auction postponed several times
The world governing body had originally ordered an auction of the Eifert vs. Bivol fight after negotiations between the two parties failed to produce a result within a set deadline. The date for the auction of the world championship fight scheduled for today (March 10) had already been postponed several times. Both camps – Eifert fights for the Magdeburg SES stable, Bivol for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing – later informed the IBF that an agreement had been reached, allowing the IBF to cancel the purse bid.
Largest possible international stage
Eifert secured his right to challenge in a final eliminator against former world champion Jean Pascal on March 16, 2023. Since then, “Diesel” has been waiting for a title fight with the IBF (more on this in the new BOXSPORT). Eifert last stood in the ring in August 2024, when he defeated Carlos Eduardo Jimenez by submission in Magdeburg. Bivol last defeated Artur Beterbiev in a rematch in February 2025 and was crowned Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion.
Bivol’s title defense against the German is likely to be one of the highlights of the fight night on May 23. And finally offer Eifert the biggest possible international stage. At the event at the pyramids of Giza (Egypt), heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven will duel in a crossover main event. The mega-event, directed by boxing impresario Turki Al-Sheikh, should appeal to both boxing and kickboxing fans.
Text: Frank Schwantes