Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night rematch one of the biggest fights of 2024, headlining what some were billing as arguably the best card in boxing history in Riyadh.
Four months have passed now since the two Russian light-heavyweights clashed in a much-anticipated and delayed showdown in the Middle East, with Beterbiev earning a contentious majority-decision victory to become the division’s first undisputed king of the four-belt era and first since the great Roy Jones Jr back in 2002.
Though lacking in explosive moments, it was nevertheless an utterly gripping 12-round battle between two of the sport’s most talented and feared fighters, with two judges scoring it 116-112 and 115-113 in favour of Beterbiev, who successfully retained his WBC, IBF and WBO world titles and also took Bivol’s WBA and IBO belts as well as picking up the vacant Ring crown. The other judge had it as a 114-114 draw.
Bivol’s camp – including promoter Eddie Hearn, who described it as “sickening” and claimed the judge who scored it 116-112 should “never work in the sport again” – decried the result as a robbery, with an official protest quickly lodged to the four sanctioning bodies over the scoring as they sought an immediate rematch.
A second bout was then confirmed in December as the headline act of a massive Riyadh Season show back in Saudi Arabia titled ‘Last Crescendo’ after Beterbiev had initially been ordered to start negotiations with IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, with all the belts in the 175-pound division on the line once again.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 fight date and venue
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 takes place on Saturday February 22, 2025 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the same venue as for the first fight back in October.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 fight time and ring walks
Saturday’s extensive undercard is due to begin at 4pm GMT, which is 7pm local time. That’s 11am ET in the United States and 8am PT.
The main event is expected to get underway at around 11pm GMT. That’s 2am in Saudi Arabia, 6pm ET and 3pm PT. Ring walks should be at close to 10:30pm GMT.
How to watch Beterbiev vs Bivol 2
TV channel and live stream: In the UK, Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 is being shown live on DAZN at a cost of £19.99, plus Sky Sports Box Office for £19.95 and TNT Sports Box Office for £19.99.
Live blog: You can follow every fight on Saturday’s huge card with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 undercard
There are so many other fights to look forward to on Saturday night alongside the epic main event, even if Daniel Dubois will now not defend his IBF heavyweight world title against Joseph Parker. The Briton pulled out on Thursday due to sickness and it will instead be Martin Bakole stepping in at short notice to fight Parker, whose WBO interim status is on the line as the winner becomes the WBO’s mandatory for Oleksandr Usyk.
Shakur Stevenson defends his WBC lightweight title against late replacement opponent Josh Padley from Doncaster, a fill-in for Floyd Schofield who was hospitalised with illness earlier this week, while Hamzah Sheeraz looks to realise his world title dream against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames.
The WBC’s interim super-welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr meets Israil Madrimov, while Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang and Agit Kabayel compete for the interim WBC heavyweight title and there’s a great all-British showdown between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title.
Saudi fighters Ziyad Almaayouf and Mohammed Alakel are also on the early bill, but Craig Richards vs Troy Jones does not appear to be on Saturday night after all despite some confusion and Bradley Rea’s fight against Constantino Nanga has been cancelled after the latter was injured in training.
Eventful week: Joseph Parker must quickly adapt to a new opponent in Martin Bakole
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Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2
Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole
Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira
Mohammed Alakel vs Engel Gomez
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 prediction
It is easy to see a familiar situation unfolding in the main event this weekend. Bivol fought very smartly in the first fight, showing all of his technical and tactical nous while at the same time being rightly wary of Beterbiev’s formidable reputation as one of boxing’s most devastating punchers that had previously seen him win all of his 20 professional contests by knockout.
However, despite a slow start, it was Beterbiev’s constant front-foot approach during a fascinating chess match and strong finish that scored highly to ultimately claim a controversial victory. The question is, how can Bivol realistically change up his approach the second time around when what he did in October wasn’t enough?
Taking more risks against a puncher of Beterbiev’s power seems dangerous and ill-advised, while Bivol himself has only one stoppage on his record since 2018.
Pressure: Artur Beterbiev should have enough to seal another undisputed victory over Dmitry Bivol
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It seems likely that he will once again try to outbox and outwork his rival and hope that this time his efforts get a more favourable response from the judges, but we’re backing Beterbiev’s relentless pressure and more eye-catching shots to win the day once more after another electric showdown.
Beterbiev to win on points again.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 weigh-in results
The weigh-ins for Saturday night’s event took place in Riyadh on Friday afternoon.
Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer took centre stage as Bivol came in at 174.1lbs and Beterbiev at 175lbs.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 odds
Beterbiev to win on points or by decision: 11/4
Beterbiev to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 9/5
Bivol to win on points or by decision: 13/10
Bivol to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 9/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).