Artur Beterbiev recently earned undisputed light heavyweight championship. However, instead of basking in his success or planning to rematch Dmitry Bivol or another high-profile contender like Michael Eifert immediately following this success, his reign may now be at risk as IBF orders him to face Michael Eifert instead – further jeopardising any headline-making fights to come!
Beterbiev’s intense battle with Bivol left fans yearning for another confrontation while both fighters expressed interest in facing each other again; therefore, following an initial draw between Eifert and Beterbiev in July 2017, the IBF has implemented its rules by ordering him to defend against Eifert in September 2017 instead of facing Bivol. This move caused widespread outrage within boxing community.
Rick Glaser, vocalizing his discontent on social media, proposed that the path to challenge an undisputed champion should involve winning two eliminators. He critiqued the IBF’s decision as a reflection of outdated policies that do not serve the best interests of the sport, its athletes, or its fans.
The enforcement of mandatory fights by the IBF has already affected the careers of champions like Oleksandr Usyk and Canelo Alvarez earlier this year. For Beterbiev, the first undisputed champion in his weight class with an untainted record, this move by the IBF is seen as a major setback that could prevent high-stakes, fan-favorite matchups from occurring.
Bob Arum Criticizes IBF’s Decision
Beterbiev’s promoter, Bob Arum, has expressed his frustration with the IBF’s insistence on enforcing their mandatory challenger requirement. He highlighted how this decision impedes potential blockbuster fights, such as one against Canelo Alvarez, which fans and promoters alike were eager to see. According to Arum, the rigidity of sanctioning bodies, particularly the IBF, is detrimental to the sport, preventing fighters from achieving or maintaining undisputed status and limiting their opportunities to take on the most compelling challenges.
Arum harshly condemned governing bodies for their part in diminishing boxing’s appeal by restricting high-profile, unification bouts. He believes fighters who reach undisputed champion status should have full freedom when choosing opponents to ensure meaningful fights happen between undisputed champions – making each bout more exciting and memorable for spectators and participants alike.
Artur Beterbiev’s case has created much discussion in the boxing community and raised many issues related to sanctioning bodies that may conflict with fighters, promoters and fans’ best interests.