In 2024, one of the crucial anticipated showdowns in boxing featured Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. On the time, Bivol entered the ring because the reigning WBA Tremendous Mild Heavyweight Champion, whereas the hard-hitting Canadian held the WBC, IBF, and WBO belts. When the mud settled, Beterbiev emerged victorious, turning into the undisputed king of the 175-pound division. Now, simply months later, they meet once more to settle unfinished enterprise.
Solely 4 months after their first encounter, Beterbiev and Bivol are set to collide as soon as extra in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in what’s shaping as much as be not simply one of many largest fights of 2025, however one of many defining clashes of the last decade. Each males stand among the many biggest gentle heavyweights of the twenty first century, and this rematch carries huge stakes.
Beterbiev didn’t simply take the belts—he additionally handed Bivol the primary lack of his profession. The primary combat was a razor-thin majority choice, with two judges scoring it for Beterbiev and the third calling it a draw. Now, the Russian-born Canadian has much more to show—was his victory decisive, or does Bivol have the blueprint to reclaim his throne?
On paper, Beterbiev is the larger puncher. He boasts 20 knockouts in his 21 victories, whereas Bivol has recorded 12 stoppages in his 23 wins. However there’s one essential element: the one man Beterbiev has did not knock out is Bivol.
Each fighters have one thing to show—Bivol is combating to regain his titles, whereas Beterbiev desires to point out that his October victory was no fluke.
Bivol’s résumé features a dominant victory over Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, a combat through which he managed the motion from begin to end, leaving the Mexican celebrity annoyed and outclassed. In the meantime, Beterbiev’s spotlight reel encompasses a brutal stoppage of Callum Smith, whom he took out within the seventh spherical to strip him of his world titles.
This Saturday, we witness an epic battle that can go down in gentle heavyweight historical past. Two champions, one ring—who walks away undisputed?
