Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol headline a much-anticipated boxing event tomorrow that is being hailed as the “Fight Card of the Century.” Staged under Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season promotional banner, the seven-fight lineup features seven championship bouts on Feb. 22 from the Anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and airs live on DAZN pay-per-view for £19.99 in the UK and $25.99 in the US.
Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) collide in a rematch for Beterbiev’s undisputed light heavyweight championships in the night’s featured bout. The duo delivered an electric 12-round bout in October, with Beterbiev winning a controversial majority decision to claim the WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA light heavyweight belts. Beterbiev was then ordered by the IBF to honor his mandatory obligation against little-known contender Michael Eifert, however a step-aside deal was agreed upon to allow Beterbiev and Bivol to rematch just four months after their first meeting.
Beterbiev and Bivol are currently ranked No. 4 and No. 7, respectively, in Uncrowned’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings.
The night’s co-feature sees WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) take on last-second replacement — and bonafide destroyer — Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) following the withdrawal of IBF heavyweight champ Daniel Dubois due to illness. Bakole has been on a tear of late, most recently steamrolling over previously unbeaten American prospect Jared Anderson in August. Parker, likewise, punctuated his current five-fight win streak with big recent performances over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
In addition to those bouts, five other championships are at stake on Saturday: Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) vs. Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KOs) for Stevenson’s WBC lightweight title, Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) for Adames’ WBC middleweight title, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) vs. Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) for the WBC interim super welterweight title, Zhilei Zhang (27-2, 22 KOs) vs. Agit Kabayel Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) for the WBC interim heavyweight title, and Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) vs. Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) for Buatsi’s WBO interim light heavyweight title.
The blockbuster Feb. 22 event begins at 11 a.m. ET on DAZN pay-per-view. Ring walks for Dubois vs. Parker are expected approximately around 4:40 p.m. ET. Ring walks for Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 are expected approximately around 6 p.m. ET.
Uncrowned will have live round-by-round coverage of the entire night.
The updated Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 fight card and betting odds can be seen below.
Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM.
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Undisputed light heavyweight title: Artur Beterbiev (-120) vs. Dmitry Bivol (+105)
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WBO interim heavyweight title: Joseph Parker (-155) vs. Martin Bakole (+125)
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WBC lightweight title: Shakur Stevenson (-4000) vs. Josh Padley (+1400)
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WBC middleweight title: Carlos Adames (+200) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (-250)
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WBC interim super welterweight title: Vergil Ortiz Jr. (-125) vs. Israil Madrimov (+110)
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WBC interim heavyweight title: Zhilei Zhang (+138) vs. Agit Kabayel (-160)
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WBO interim light heavyweight title: Joshua Buatsi (-190) vs. Callum Smith (+160)
Prelims (10 a.m. ET)
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