Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are set to clash in a rematch on February 22 in Riyadh.
The pound-for-pound stars met for the first time on October 12 in a 12-round thriller that went in favour of Artur Beterbiev, who became the undisputed light heavyweight champion and handed Bivol his first career defeat.
The rematch was confirmed earlier in the month, as it headlines another incredible Riyadh Season show at the Kingdom Arena. In the co-main event, Daniel Dubois defends his IBF heavyweight title against Joseph Parker, as well as a world title showdown between Shakur Stevenson and Floyd Schofield, and a maiden world title shot for Hamzah Sheeraz who faces Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title.
Another name in the light heavyweight mix is David Benavidez, who will be keeping a close eye on the rematch as he looks to challenge for a world title at 175lbs in the near future.
Speaking to ESNEWS, the former super middleweight champion Benavidez gave his thoughts on the rematch where he thinks Dmitry Bivol will prevail this time around.
“It’s going to be a throwback fight and that’s what we all expect to see. If it’s the same as the last fight I see Bivol winning again unless they rob him and then there’s nothing really he can do.”
‘The Monster’ picked up the WBC ‘interim’ light heavyweight belt against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in the summer, and is now pencilled in to clash with WBA ‘regular’ light heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
