Artur Beterbiev’s rematch against Dmitry Bivol has been confirmed for February 2025, with a star-studded undercard set up for the fight.
The duo did battle in one of the fights of the year in October, with Beterbiev coming out on top via majority decision and a rematch called for ever since the final bell of the bout.
And that has now been agreed, with the date set as February 22 next year and dubbed ‘The Last Crescendo’. It will be part of Riyadh Season and take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A star-studded undercard is also being lined up for the night, with seven titles on the line in total and a number of heavyweight titles at that.
The likes of Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker and Callum Smith will all be fighting on the night on a card that is being touted as potentially the best of all time – though there are no female bouts set for the card.
All eyes will be on the rematch between Russian pair Beterbiev and Bivol, with the match-up for the undisputed world light heavyweight championship after Beterbiev was crowned the division’s first undisputed champion since 2002 earlier on this year.
The date for the rematch of Artur Beterbiev (left) versus Dmitry Bivol (right) has now been set
The Russian duo put on a classic back in October, which ended in controversial fashion
Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn claimed it was an ‘absolute joke’ and that his fighter was ‘robbed’
The Russian duo put on a classic in October with a narrow victory going to Beterbiev, but there was outrage from the losing camp when the scores were announced.
While one judge had a draw at 114-114 and another gave Beterbiev a 115-113 win, there was outcry after Pawel Kardyni awarded Beterbiev a 116-112 victory.
Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn claimed it was an ‘absolute joke’ and that his fighter, never before beaten, had been ‘robbed’ – though he would have lost even if Kardyni had awarded a closer score.
‘We’re going to file a protest on Monday,’ Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov told BoxNation.
‘I think the judge has to at least have some kind of responsibility for what he did. It’s becoming very destructive to the sport what they’re doing.
‘These organisations (sanctioning bodies) have supervisors, the supervisors are friendly with the judges, they’re hugging the promoters, it’s beginning to look like a scheme.’
Nonetheless, Bivol will have the chance to put things, as he sees it, right in just over two months’ time, though a loss could be damaging for his career.
The 33-year-old has suffered just one professional loss over the years – against Beterbiev – having beaten the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Malik Zinad in the past.
Daniel Dubois will be in action for the first time since his brutal defeat of Anthony Joshua
Dubois knocked Joshua out in the fifth round of their heavyweight title fight earlier this year
Zhilei Zhang (right), who beat Deontay Wilder (left) last time out, will also fight on undercard
The full card has been dubbed one of the best cards ever and will take place on February 22
Elsewhere, Dubois – who, like Beterbiev, has clashed with Jake Paul in recent weeks – will put his IBF world heavyweight championship on the line for the first time since knocking out Anthony Joshua in stunning fashion.
The 27-year-old stopped his fellow Brit in round five of their world title bout at Wembley in September, and will now face Joseph Parker, who out-boxed Zhilei Zhang last time out in March.
Parker also beat Deontay Wilder a year ago, not losing since September 2022, when he was knocked out by Joe Joyce.
Further down the card, Shakur Stevenson and Floyd Schofield will do battle for the WBC world lightweight championship, while Carlos Adames will defend his WBC world middleweight championship against Hamzah Sheeraz.
Vergil Ortiz Jnr will be in action against Israil Madrimov for the WBC world interim super welterweight championship, and two household names will also be in action for interim titles.
Callum Smith will take on Joshua Buatsi for the WBO world interim light heavyweight championship having lost to Beterbiev at the start of the year, though the Liverpudlian got the better of Carlos Galvan in Birmingham last month.
Finally, Zhang will be looking to continue getting his career back on track after a brutal knockout of Wilder when he tackles Agit Kabayel for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight championship.
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