A mammoth card in Riyadh sees a complete wealth of world title motion this Saturday, and in the principle occasion, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitri Bivol run again their October 2024 thriller for Beterbiev’s undisputed mild heavyweight title.
A wealth of promoters have put collectively the Bivol vs Beterbiev 2 card, with a complete host of broadcasters concerned worldwide.
Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) is now 40, and after reigning as WBC and IBF champion, he added the WBO crown with a ruthless second spherical stoppage of Joe Smith Jr in June 2022. The Russian then needed to work arduous to see off Anthony Yarde in eight to start out 2023, and nearly a yr later, he defended in his adopted Canada with a seventh spherical win towards Callum Smith in Quebec Metropolis.
Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) had been a long-reigning WBA champion, together with his crowning glory coming in Might 2022 when he toppled the good Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on the playing cards. Three extra wins adopted to arrange an undisputed conflict with Beterbiev final October, and in a close-run contest, the place you could possibly have made an argument for both, Beterbiev was the victor by majority choice.
Prediction: This was so arduous to name final time, though I felt Bivol had performed sufficient, however to no avail. I lean in direction of Bivol making the required changes to be the winner, but it surely could possibly be by the closest of margins.
Beterbiev vs Bivol was razor shut first time round Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Dubois defends towards Parker
The undercard sees Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) make the second defence of his IBF heavyweight title towards Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs). Dubois has rebuilt effectively since losses to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, and he’s on a run of three straight early wins.
After halting Filip Hrgovic in eight rounds final June, Dubois was upgraded to full IBF champion, and he made a primary defence at Wembley Stadium recording a surprising fifth spherical knockout win to retain towards Anthony Joshua, who had no reply to Dubois’ energy.
Dubois is within the type of his life Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Parker is on a resurgence of his personal since being knocked out in eleven by Joe Joyce in 2022, and has received 5 on the spin since. The previous WBO champion’s final two fights have seen him impress, starting with a December 2023 factors win towards Deontay Wilder in a struggle that Parker dominated.
The New Zealander backed that up final March with an outstanding majority nod towards Zhilei Zhang, the place Parker bought off the deck twice to take the win.
Prediction: Parker begins as an underdog right here, however I feel if he can get previous the primary 4 or 5 rounds, he can field his approach to changing into a two-time world champion on factors.
“I have to be me, execute the plan & become champion of the world!”
Joseph Parker on learn how to beat Daniel Dubois
— Sky Sports activities Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 18, 2025
Sheeraz makes an attempt to dethrone Adames
Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) goes for world honours for the primary time, as he takes on WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs). Sheeraz hasn’t been the gap since 2018, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how he handles the championship tempo right here. The slough man was out thrice final yr, wiping out Liam Williams inside a spherical earlier than stopping Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams almost 4 months later.
Sheeraz was final out in September final yr, stopping Tyler Denny in two. Adames had a spell as WBC interim champion, and was then upgraded, and the Dominican was seen as soon as in 2024, defending for the primary time in a large factors win towards Terrell Gausha in Las Vegas.
Prediction: Sheeraz is hard-hitting, and no-one has been in a position to dwell together with his energy thus far. I feel he can turn into the brand new champion inside schedule.
Buatsi and Smith battle for home pleasure
The primary present is opened by a contest that may grace the principle occasion in most locations on the planet, and Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) can defend his interim WBO mild heavyweight crown towards Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs), with a transparent win on the playing cards the more than likely end result.
“This will be fight & performance of the night”
Joshua Buatsi’s in search of an enormous assertion victory over Callum Smith
— Sky Sports activities Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 19, 2025
Ortiz and Madrimov go to warfare
Vergil Ortiz Jr (22-0, 21 KOs) was pressured to listen to the ultimate bell for the primary time as a professional in his final outing, and the American can defend his WBC interim tremendous welterweight title towards Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs), who misplaced his WBA title to Terence Crawford final August. Ortiz may be pressured to go the gap once more to get his hand raised.
Can Kabayel keep away from getting Banged?
Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) seems to be to proceed to get again into the combination at heavyweight, and after stopping Deontay Wilder in his most up-to-date contest final June, ‘Massive Bang’ can declare the interim WBC title with a stoppage win towards Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs), though the Chinese language large does begin because the underdog.
Shakur faces late alternative after struggle week drama
After a irritating 2024, the place he boxed solely as soon as, Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) was on account of defend his WBC light-weight title towards fellow American Floyd Schofield, however Schofield was hospitalised, and in steps Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KOs) for the possibility of a lifetime on simply three days’ discover.
Padley shocked Mark Chamberlain in his final struggle, however this seems to be a bridge too far, and Stevenson ought to retain, presumably by way of late stoppage.
Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC light-weight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia towards undefeated Josh Padley on three-days discover.
Padley steps in for Schofield, who withdrew from the struggle towards Stevenson on account of an sickness, his promoters Golden Boy confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Vm0cPez2Ou
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) February 19, 2025
Additional undercard preview
In six rounders, Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0-1, 1 KO) can report a factors win in his tremendous light-weight assembly with Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-20, 5 KOs), and light-weight novice Mohammed Alakel (2-0, 0 KOs) can do the identical towards Engel Gomez (8-42-3, 4 KOs).
The put up Artur Beterbiev vs Dimtri Bivol 2 – Massive Struggle Preview & Predictions appeared first on ProBoxing-Followers.com.
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Publish date : 2025-02-20 14:32:14
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