Artur Asilbekovich Beterbiev vs. Michael Eifert

Alright boy, you've eaten your meat, NOW HAVE YOUR PUDDING.

I know we aren't seriously expecting it to happen anytime soon; it certainly won't be next (with Beterbiev ordered by the WBC to complete a deal with their mandatory challenger for him, Callum John "Mundo" Smith of the UK by April 11th for a bout to likely occur in late spring or early summer). After that, more lucrative voluntary defenses or unifications versus the likes of Joshua Buatsi or Dmitry Bivol will certainly be Team Beterbiev's priorities. Technically, however, the just desserts earned by the young German in his upset over Jean Pascal a week ago include becoming the mandatory #1 contender for the IBF world light heavyweight title also held by the hard-hitting Russian. So there is a possibility, that unless either man's status (as champion or mandatory respectively) changes, that eventually they may be ordered to meet for that belt and that could be as early as the back-end of this year if negotiations for other bouts after Smith all fall through.

Assuming the successful repulsion of Callum Smith, this would make for Beterbiev's ninth defense of the IBF (the only prize that Eifert is actually in line for, the rest being "gravy"), sixth defense of the WBC, and third defense of the WBO title. It will be the challenger's first appearance in a world championship tilt, and second ever scheduled 12-rounder after last week's IBF eliminator.

The current unified (but still one piece shy of undisputed with Bivol in possession of the WBA infinity stone) IBF, WBC, and WBO titlist at 175lbs, the "Beast From The East" stands about eye to eye with "Diesel", both standing 5′11½″ (technically Beterbiev at 182cm has one centimeter on Eifert). He is also 13 years his senior and has been a pro for a half-decade longer, with six more bouts and having exclusively fought in championship affairs since prior to Eifert's debut. Despite that, in terms of rounds boxed, only 13 separate them as Eifert's matches have mostly gone their scheduled distance while Beterbiev enjoys a perfect 100% rate of stoppage over his opponents to date.

Now, at first glance this seems an extraordinary mismatch. There is a 99.99% chance of Beterbiev knocking the kid's block off, with an optimistic prognosis or "merely" ending his career if not permanently jeopardizing Eifert's health. That said, Eifert was also very decidedly "supposed" to lose to Pascal and headed in a 5/1 underdog only to pitch a perfect 12-round shutout. Despite his obscurity and inexperience, he does have upper echelon movement, ring IQ, work rate, and skillful execution within a somewhaitt basic European stand up style (built around the jab and 1-2) - and while his chin isn't yet branded as "tried and true" it was more than serviceable against the few of Pascal's increasingly desperate bombs that got through flush. That said, Beterbiev punches more forcefully than Pascal and while opponents can outbox him it may require a more dynamic style to do so as his own skills are somewhat underrated by those who write him off as just a Hulk-smash powerhouse - and the pop of a youngster with just 4 stoppages to his name may not be sufficient to gain his respect even if that 1-2 lands as regularly as it did on Pascal.

Eifert pulling it off would still make for a miraculous upset, but in light of him showing his stuff last Monday it edges slightly closer from the realm of fantasy to conceivable reality. By an inch or two, perhaps.

 

Jean Pascal is known to pack a wallop despite only having a deceptive 44% himself and was a massive favorite but got schooled.

Of course, Beterbiev despite being similar in age is quite a bit less shot and more active than Pascal as well as yes, the more bone-crunching striker.

 

The latter is where a crack of daylight might exist for him. Twelve rounds of exceedingly careful boxing would be needed, and it would feel like he might get KTFO any second until 2:59 of round 12.

Basically if this goes the distance, a UD for Eifert is very much on the docket. He needs to basically never be so much as touched by anything other than set-up jab, though, for 36 minutes of action (that or his chin needs to wind up reaching a much higher grade than merely "seemingly decent" as it currently stands and in fact be of the legendary variety). Tall order.

 

The path that exists for Eifert is the same path that exists for Bivol - it would need to be a cautious long-range boxing clinic. The difference is that Bivol is far more proven and experienced than Eifert.

So anybody that favors Bivol (say, about 60-40) must also give a non-zero chance to Eifert - if even just 0.01%, because he brings a lot of the same attributes, just a much lower quality version. Or, presumed much lower unless shown otherwise.

 

Inspo boxing story of the decade if Eifert were to bottle up some more lightning. Of course the sour grapes crowd would right come out with the "Pascal and Beterbiev are washed old men!" and refuse to give a lick of cred.

 

To an extent, sure, but he still dropped & beat Fanlong Mèng (not very good, but ranked) last year - and dropped & beat Jack a couple of years before that. You can't blame the shock upset entirely on Pascal being shot. He is, but Eifert was also better than expected and just a bitch of a stylistic match-up for Pascal.

 

It's kinda bs and something that's always bothered me in this sport, that somebody can do what you're "supposed" to do, earn your mandatory position by moving up the rankings and scoring a big upset, only to not get the pot of gold at the rainbow's end because oh, that's a waste of the champion's time.

Yeah well too bad if not every night at the office for a champ doesn't get to be a huge money superfight - a) mandatories are part & parcel of the game, it's literally the way things are structured and have always done and b) what's that about wasting time, now? Beterbiev hasn't fought in nearly a year.

9½ months since defeating Pascal and there hasn't been a peep about Eifert getting a title shot, with several lower-ranked names linked to potential IBF challenges. Yeah, he'd be a massive underdog and would probably get violently murked. Doesn't matter. He completed the requisite steps and earned the payday, and the (however slim) chance to score yet another upset.