“I waited a long time. Now finally the IBF has given Bivol a clear deadline,” said Eifert. “I used that time to improve in the gym.”
Bivol is a good technician. He keeps his front foot outside, recovers behind the jab and punishes square stances with straight counters down the pipe.
“Bivol is already a legend of the sport,” Eifert said. “But that’s exactly what motivates me. This is my chance at greatness. I’ve waited my whole life for this day. I know I can dethrone him. Let’s get it on, Dmitri!”
Bivol’s best work comes when opponents try to force exchanges. He slides back half a step off the front foot, shoots down the straight right and then spins off the ropes. Eifert has to bump him without opening lanes. That means disciplined pressure, layered finesse and bodywork that outlasts counters.
Promoter wants the fight in Germany
Promoter Benedikt Poelchau said the opportunity is huge for Eifert. “Michael is in excellent condition. This is a mega-fight for German boxing. No other German boxer has ever been involved in such a fight. Michael is in the form of his life.” Poelchau said. “We are ready to fight this battle in Germany.”
The Pascal equation is repeated because both fighters beat him. It doesn’t tell you anything useful. Eifert’s version of Pascal in 2023 was slower, less dangerous to emerge. Bivol fought him in 2018 when the Canadian was still timing and could still slip punches to the shoulders. Different versions. Different problems.
What Eifert showed in that fight was patience and ring generalship. He stayed behind, stepped left as Pascal charged the right hand and made him work for entries. Those habits travel. Whether they survive Bivol’s adjustments is the real question.
Bivol does not chase knockouts. He clears openings. Those who come in heavily are countered with tops by the guard on their way out. The Russian works in fractions, setting traps with finesse, and over twelve rounds those fractions become gaps.
Eifert works from the orthodox southpaw dynamic where his lead foot must be outside. That gives him the straight left down the middle. The problem is that Bivol adjusts his stance better than most and knows how to squeeze the backhand before it dismounts. He also doubles his jab to disrupt timing, then comes over the top with the right hand when southpaws try to circle left.
Eifert has power in the straight left. He also has youth and achievement. Neither changes the picture if he can’t set pace early or work the body to slow down Bivol’s solid footwork. The Russian only accelerates when the other man slows down.
Sometimes the underdog finds a crack in the defense. More often you see why champions stay champions and why technical fighters age better than punchers.
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