Notebook: Bivol on mend, aims for April return in mandatory vs. Eifert
Dickens set to defend 130 belt against Cacace; WBA dumps Jake Paul from ratings; Canelo, Munguia decline shot at vacant IBF 168 title; Quick hits; Show and tell
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After undergoing back surgery in August, lineal and unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is aiming to return to training next month with an eye on his return fight being a long overdue IBF mandatory against Michael Eifert, Bivol manager Vadim Kornilov told Fight Freaks Unite.
“Dmitry is planning to start training in February,” Kornilov said. “Hopefully, he feels good and we can return starting with the IBF mandatory in due time.
“It’s hard to say right now whether (his back) is 100 percent. He has just started moving around and hitting the heavy bag lightly in the recent week or so.”
Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs), 34, of Russia, was limited to just one fight in 2025, but it was a big one as he scored the most significant and richest win of his career, a majority decision over Artur Beterbiev in their immediate rematch to win the undisputed light heavyweight title on Feb. 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
