Jean Pascal, Michael Eifert Agree To Terms For IBF Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator
The purse bid hearing would have taken place today in New Jersey.
Jean Pascal and Michael Eifert won’t have to go through the troubles of a purse bid.
Quebec’s Pascal and Germany’s Eifert reached an agreement for their ordered IBF light heavyweight title eliminator on Monday afternoon, according to Boxing Scene. The purse bid hearing would’ve taken place on Tuesday at the IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey.
Now, both Pascal and Eifert are closer to earning a title shot.
Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) already has experience of being a world champion. He previously held the WBA regular light heavyweight title from 2019 to 2021. Before that, he donned the WBC, IBO, Ring magazine and lineal light heavyweight titles from 2009 and 2011.
His reigned ended in a points loss to legendary two-division champion Bernard Hopkins in their May 2011 rematch.
Pascal was supposed to fight this month (November) against undefeated and 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi in an ordered title eliminator, but those plans fell through. The IBF declared Buatsi’s side in default for failing to return the signed contract by the deadline.
This led to talks to the next highest ranked available contender – which was Eifert (11-1, 4 KOs).
The German boxer will face his toughest competition yet in Pascal. The 24-year-old has fought only in Germany and against domestic-level boxers.
He is on a five-fight winning streak.
Depending on how unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev’s bout with Anthony Yarde goes on January 28, the winner of Pascal-Eifert would have to wait out at least one more mandatory title defense.
Pascal-Eifert is expected to happen in the first quarter of 2023 at a venue somewhere in Canada.