Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will step back inside the ring for their highly anticipated rematch on February 22, 2025, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This clash promises not just to settle their rivalry but also to determine who will reign as the undisputed light heavyweight champion, with five prestigious titles on the line: WBA, IBF, WBO, WBC, and The Ring belts.
The stage for their rematch has been set after their first bout last October, when Beterbiev narrowly edged Bivol on points. The judges scored it 115-113, 116-112, and a counterbalancing draw of 114-114. Many spectators felt the decision was controversial, especially as Bivol had been controlling much of the fight up until the later rounds. “I controlled the fight for most of it... I should have been more active,” Bivol remarked, pinpointing areas he believes could have swayed the judges.
At 40 years old, Beterbiev arrives with the moral of being undefeated (21 wins, 20 knockouts) and has held the undisputed light heavyweight title since 2024. Bivol, aged 33, seeks to avenge the only blemish on his otherwise flawless record of 33 wins, emphasizing his determination to reclaim his status at the top.
This rematch is not just personal for Bivol; it carries immense hype as it’s headlining a stacked fight card dubbed ‘The Last Crescendo.’ Following Daniel Dubois' last-minute withdrawal due to illness, Joseph Parker will fight Martin Bakole as the co-main event. This change adds another layer of intrigue, as Bakole was reportedly selected over other notable fighters such as Anthony Joshua.
Fight fans can look forward to several other exciting bouts on the undercard. Shakur Stevenson will take on Josh Padley for the WBC lightweight title, Carlos Adames faces Hamzah Sheeraz for the WBC middleweight title, and there's also much anticipation around the fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Israil Madrimov, which is set to be equally thrilling.
With the stakes so high, Beterbiev is aware of the pressure of retaining his title. He expressed confidence heading back to the ring, stating, “They can say anything. I don’t care about it. My challenge is to do better than last time.” This sentiment reflects the mentality both fighters bring as they prepare for the bout—an expectation to improve from their previous encounter.
For those eager to catch the rematch live, the event will be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office, DAZN, and TNT Sports Box Office for £19.99. The main event ring walks for Beterbiev and Bivol are expected around 11 PM UK time, following the undercard fights.
Anticipation builds not just around the clash of Beterbiev and Bivol but also for every fighter bringing their skills to the ring on this memorable night. The boxing world will be watching intently, as not only the undisputed light heavyweight title is at stake but also the legacies of both Beterbiev and Bivol, who aim to cement their places in boxing history with this matchup.