The rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for each of the four world light-heavyweight belts takes place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Just four months on from their thrilling first bout, the two pound-for-pound stars put their reputations and legacies on the line to headline a card in Riyadh that is arguably the greatest to ever be compiled.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the highly-anticipated clash, as well as the fights that will precede the main event.
ARTUR BETERBIEV VS. DMITRY BIVOL
Alhamdulillah for everything 🤲☝️ pic.twitter.com/dSWWrcU6r6
— Artur Beterbiev (@ABeterbiev) February 18, 2025
Having took years to finally come head to head, the influence of Turki Alalshikh has ensured that Beterbiev and Bivol have shown a desire to square off for the second time in a matter of months.
While their initial showdown in October was not necessarily a fight for the ages, it captivated the boxing world in what felt like one of the best style match-ups that could be made.
The general consensus was that Beterbiev - holder of the IBF, WBC and WBO belts - was the marginal favourite to edge out WBC title holder Bivol, who had been lacking competitive opponents since his stellar 2022 when he defeated Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez.
Although the end result was a majority-decision verdict for Beterbiev by scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112, it was a contentious outcome with many feeling that Bivol had done enough to edge the fight.
Bivol's extra crispness with his jab and punch selection proved key in the early rounds, the heavier-punching Beterbiev having his moments but seemingly clearly behind on the scorecards.
In a memorable seventh, the two undefeated warriors went toe-to-toe, Bivol seemingly making a significant dent in his opponent before Beterbiev came roaring back to showcase his power.
Ultimately, Beterbiev winning rounds 10, 11 and 12 made the difference in October, but there was already an inevitability regarding a rematch providing that neither fighter chose to walk away from the sport.
Such a short turnaround essentially means that money talked, yet these are two men fighting to be regarded as the greatest of all-time in their weight class. If Bivol wins on Saturday, do not rule out a trilogy.
UNDERCARD
© Imago
Attention will not turn to the main event until the conclusion of the undercard, there being six other fights that could headline shows in their own right.
Daniel Dubois had been due to make the the second defence of his IBF world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker, fresh off stopping Anthony Joshua in the fifth round of their Wembley brawl in September.
Parker, meanwhile, has relished the opportunities that have come his way in the Middle-East, upsetting Deontay Wilder and getting off the canvas twice to defeat Zhilei Zhang.
However, on Thursday, Dubois fell ill and was subsequently pulled from the fight. Martin Bakole has since stepped in and replaced the Englishman to set up an equally-intriguing showdown with New Zealander Parker.
Hamzah Sheeraz will attempt to become WBC middleweight champion against Carlos Adames, the 25-year-old having overcome Ammo Williams and bulldozed his way through Tyler Denny to earn his shot.
The WBO interim light-heavyweight title clash between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith is another intriguing bout, one that should have perhaps taken place earlier in their careers.
Whoever prevails from the all-British encounter is in line to face the winner of Beterbiev or Bivol should they continue in the sport.
Vergil Ortiz Jr and Israil Madrimov meet for the WBC interim super-welterweight title, Ortiz putting his 22-fight unbeaten career on the line against former WBA champion Madrimov who lost to pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford last time out.
Zhang and Agit Kabayel are fighting for the WBC interim heavyweight title, effectively bidding to put themselves in line for a shot at Oleksandr Usyk.
Meanwhile, Shakur Stevenson puts his WBC lightweight title on the line against Josh Pedley, a late replacement for Floyd Schofield who was withdrawn from the fight earlier this week having fallen ill.
PREDICTIONS
© Imago
The main event has many realistic outcomes, including the fight developing in the same way as the first, but you have to wonder whether Bivol will take a less proactive approach to save more for the back end of the fight.
That is what ultimately cost him last time out, regardless of your opinion on the scorecards, but the dilemma that he has is that Beterbiev will not give him a moments peace if he does not look to take control.
As a result, that leaves us to predict a more conclusive win for Beterbiev at some point from round eight onwards. Bivol should win rounds, but the sheer power and doggedness of the champion could prove key.
In the chief support, much may depend on the fitness of Bakole, who had been preparing for a fight with Efe Ajagba in May. Bakole was travelling from the Congo on Thursday evening.
Bakole's best chance will naturally be in the early rounds, his relentless likely to cause Parker all kind of problems. However, the general consensus is that Parker will become favourite if he can take it past five or six rounds, and we see a stoppage shortly after that point.
Sheeraz's size, like it normally does, may prove too much for Adames. If Sheeraz makes the weight effectively, we feel that he will become world champion in emphatic fashion.
Size may also come into it with Buatsi and Smith. Although having previously competed at super-middleweight, Smith remains a big 175lb'er, and he could come through in six to nine rounds providing that he has completely shaken off the demoralising loss to Beterbiev at the start of 2024.
Ortiz and Madrimov is a pick'em, as his Zhang and Kabayel. Madrimov could win a tight decision in the former, with Zhang's size advantage enough to nullify the greater activity of Kabayel for a mid-rounds stoppage.
Despite Pedley deserving huge credit for stepping in at four days notice to face Stevenson, the Brit may be overwhelmed and a points defeat would be a positive outcome for the huge underdog.
Darren Plant
