Dmitry Bivol, the reigning unified light heavyweight champion, is currently recovering from back surgery and will be sidelined for the remainder of 2025. Bivol, who holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles, revealed on social media that he had undergone surgery to address a back injury that has plagued him for over a decade.
The injury had worsened with each training camp, leading to the decision to undergo surgery. Bivol is now in the midst of his recovery and is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks before he can begin training again.
As a result of his injury and surgery, Bivol and his team have filed for a medical exception with the IBF, which would allow him to avoid his overdue mandatory title defense against Michael Eifert. Bivol’s camp is hopeful that the IBF will grant the exception, which would allow the champion to maintain his unified status without facing Eifert in the near future.
Bivol, whose professional record stands at 24 wins and only one loss, explained that the back injury had become increasingly problematic over time. Despite managing the injury for years, it had affected his performance during training, and surgery became the only viable option.
The procedure was reportedly successful, and Bivol is already feeling better. He plans to start his training again once he completes the necessary recovery period.
The IBF’s title situation and Bivol’s mandatory defense
Bivol’s mandatory defense against Michael Eifert was initially set for July 1, but talks between the two camps did not result in an agreement. Eifert, the IBF’s No. 1 contender, earned his ranking with a significant win over Jean Pascal in March 2023, but despite that, negotiations with Bivol stalled.
Bivol had requested a one-week extension to reach an agreement, but with the deadline passing, the IBF was poised to move forward with a purse bid for the fight. However, due to Bivol’s injury, the mandatory title defense is now uncertain.
Eifert’s path to a title shot has been a slow one, as he was initially passed over in favor of a potential unification bout between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Bivol and Beterbiev met in a highly anticipated rematch in February 2023, where Bivol emerged victorious by majority decision.
After that fight, Bivol vacated his WBC title, focusing instead on his IBF and WBA belts. Beterbiev, who had also been ordered to face Eifert, ultimately moved on to other challenges.
Given his injury, Bivol’s request for a medical exception will now be under review by the IBF. Should the exception be granted, Bivol could retain his titles until he is fit to return to the ring. In the meantime, the IBF may opt to sanction interim title fights, as they have become more common in cases of injured champions.
Bivol is optimistic about his recovery and hopes to return in 2026, stronger than ever. While he has not indicated who his next opponent will be, fans are eagerly awaiting his comeback and the future of the light heavyweight division.
Read the full article here
