Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night time rematch one of many largest fights of 2024, headlining what’s being billed by some as arguably the very best card in boxing historical past in Riyadh.
4 months have handed now because the two Russian light-heavyweights clashed in a much-anticipated and delayed showdown within the Center East, with Beterbiev incomes a contentious majority-decision victory to grow to be the division’s first undisputed king of the four-belt period and first because the nice Roy Jones Jr again in 2002.
Although missing in explosive moments, it was however an totally gripping 12-round battle between two of the game’s most proficient and feared fighters, with two judges scoring it 116-112 and 115-113 in favour of Beterbiev, who efficiently retained his WBC, IBF and WBO world titles and likewise took Bivol’s WBA and IBO belts in addition to selecting up the vacant Ring crown. The opposite choose had it as a 114-114 draw.
Bivol’s camp – together with promoter Eddie Hearn, who described it as “sickening” and claimed the choose who scored it 116-112 ought to “by no means work within the sport once more” – decried the outcome as a theft, with an official protest rapidly lodged to the 4 sanctioning our bodies over the scoring as they sought a direct rematch.
A second bout was then confirmed in December because the headline act of an enormous Riyadh Season present again in Saudi Arabia titled ‘Final Crescendo’ after Beterbiev had initially been ordered to start out negotiations with IBF obligatory challenger Michael Eifert, with all of the belts within the 175-pound division on the road as soon as once more.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 battle date and venue
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 takes place on Saturday February 22, 2025 on the Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the identical venue as for the primary battle again in October.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 battle time and ring walks
Saturday’s in depth undercard is because of start at 4pm GMT, which is 7pm native time. That’s 11am ET in the US and 8am PT.
The principle occasion is anticipated to get underway at round 11pm GMT. That’s 2am in Saudi Arabia, 6pm ET and 3pm PT. Ring walks needs to be at near 10:30pm GMT.
How one can watch Beterbiev vs Bivol 2
TV channel and reside stream: Within the UK, Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 is being proven reside on DAZN at a value of £19.99, plus Sky Sports activities Field Workplace for £19.95 and TNT Sports activities Field Workplace for £19.99.
Stay weblog: You possibly can observe each battle on Saturday’s large card with Customary Sport’s reside weblog.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 undercard
Shakur Stevenson defends his WBC light-weight title in opposition to fellow American Floyd Schofield, whereas Hamzah Sheeraz appears to be like to grasp his world title dream in opposition to WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames.
The WBC’s interim super-welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr meets Israil Madrimov, whereas Zhilei ‘Huge Bang’ Zhang and Agit Kabayel compete for the interim WBC heavyweight title and there’s a fantastic all-British showdown between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title. Bradley Rea’s opening battle in opposition to Constantino Nanga has been cancelled after the latter was injured in coaching.
Chief assist: Daniel Dubois defends his IBF heavyweight title in opposition to Joseph Parker
Getty Photographs
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2
Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker
Shakur Stevenson vs Floyd Schofield
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 prediction
It’s straightforward to see a well-known scenario unfolding in the principle occasion this weekend. Bivol fought very well within the first battle, exhibiting all of his technical and tactical nous whereas on the similar time being rightly cautious of Beterbiev’s formidable status as one in every of boxing’s most devastating punchers that had beforehand seen him win all of his 20 skilled contests by knockout.
Nevertheless, regardless of a sluggish begin, it was Beterbiev’s fixed front-foot strategy throughout an enchanting chess match and robust end that scored extremely to in the end declare a controversial victory. The query is, how can Bivol realistically change up his strategy the second time round when what he did in October wasn’t sufficient?
Taking extra dangers in opposition to a puncher of Beterbiev’s energy appears harmful and ill-advised, whereas Bivol himself has just one stoppage on his file since 2018.
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Strain: Artur Beterbiev ought to have sufficient to seal one other undisputed victory over Dmitry Bivol
Getty Photographs
It appears possible that he’ll as soon as once more attempt to outbox and outwork his rival and hope that this time his efforts get a extra beneficial response from the judges, however we’re backing Beterbiev’s relentless stress and extra eye-catching photographs to win the day as soon as extra after one other electrical showdown.
Beterbiev to win on factors.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 weigh-in
The weigh-ins for Saturday night time’s occasion happen in Riyadh on Friday afternoon. Test again in then for the outcomes.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 odds
Beterbiev to win on factors or by choice: 11/4
Beterbiev to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 9/5
Bivol to win on factors or by choice: 13/10
Bivol to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 9/1
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to vary).