Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol: A Clash of Titans in Saudi Arabia
Boxing fans, brace yourselves for an electrifying showdown as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol prepare to face off once again in a highly anticipated rematch. The stage is set in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the two light heavyweight titans will battle it out in the main event of a jam-packed boxing card. This Saturday, the world will be watching as Beterbiev makes the first defense of his undisputed light heavyweight championship against Bivol. The action kicks off at 10:30 a.m. ET on DAZN PPV.
For those who might need a quick refresher, Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) unified all four major titles with a majority decision victory against Bivol in October. It was a fight that had fans on the edge of their seats, as Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) started strong but faded towards the end. Beterbiev’s relentless pursuit in the final rounds secured him the win with scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 114-114 from the judges. It was a bout that left fans craving more, and now, the rematch promises to deliver even more fireworks.
Heading into Saturday’s rematch, Beterbiev is a slight favorite, with odds of -120 per ESPN BET. His reign as a champion has been nothing short of remarkable, holding at least one of the belts since November 11, 2017. That’s over seven years of dominance in the light heavyweight division, a testament to his skill and tenacity in the ring.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. The card is stacked with thrilling matchups that are sure to keep fans entertained. Former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is set to face top contender Martin Bakole for the WBO heavyweight interim title. Originally, Parker was scheduled to fight IBF champ Daniel Dubois, but Dubois had to withdraw due to illness. Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) is no stranger to the spotlight, having won the WBO belt in 2016 after defeating Andy Ruiz Jr. He successfully defended it twice before losing to Anthony Joshua in March 2018. Meanwhile, Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) is riding high after scoring an upset victory over Jared Anderson with a fifth-round KO in Los Angeles.
Here’s a quick rundown of the other exciting bouts on the main card:
- Shakur Stevenson vs. Josh Padley for Stevenson’s WBC lightweight title.
- Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz for the WBC middleweight belt.
- Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov for the vacant WBC junior middleweight interim title.
- Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith for the WBO light heavyweight interim belt.
- Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel for the vacant WBC heavyweight interim title.
With such a stellar lineup, boxing enthusiasts are in for a treat. The anticipation is palpable, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Beterbiev continue his reign of dominance, or will Bivol exact his revenge and reclaim the titles? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: this is a night of boxing you won’t want to miss.
Stay tuned for live updates, results, and round-by-round analysis from Riyadh. The world will be watching as these warriors step into the ring, ready to leave it all on the line for glory and honor.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
