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A mammoth card in Riyadh sees an entire wealth of world title motion this Saturday, and in the primary occasion, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol run again their October 2024 thriller for Beterbiev’s undisputed mild heavyweight title.
A wealth of promoters have put collectively the Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 card, with an entire host of broadcasters concerned worldwide.
Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) is now 40, and after reigning as WBC and IBF champion, he added the WBO crown with a ruthless second spherical stoppage of Joe Smith Jr in June 2022. The Russian then needed to work laborious to see off Anthony Yarde in eight to start out 2023, and nearly a 12 months later, he defended in his adopted Canada with a seventh spherical win towards Callum Smith in Quebec Metropolis.
Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) had been a long-reigning WBA champion, along with his crowning glory coming in Might 2022 when he toppled the nice Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on the playing cards. Three extra wins adopted to arrange an undisputed conflict with Beterbiev final October, and in a close-run contest, the place you possibly can have made an argument for both, Beterbiev was the victor by majority choice.
Prediction: This was so laborious to name final time, though I felt Bivol had accomplished sufficient, however to no avail. I lean in the direction of Bivol making the mandatory changes to be the winner, however it may very well be by the closest of margins.
Beterbiev vs Bivol was razor shut first time round Photograph Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Dubois defends towards Parker
The undercard sees Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) make the second defence of his IBF heavyweight title towards Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs). Dubois has rebuilt properly since losses to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, and he’s on a run of three straight early wins.
After halting Filip Hrgovic in eight rounds final June, Dubois was upgraded to full IBF champion, and he made a primary defence at Wembley Stadium recording a surprising fifth spherical knockout win to retain towards Anthony Joshua, who had no reply to Dubois’ energy.
Dubois is within the type of his life Photograph Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Parker is on a resurgence of his personal since being knocked out in eleven by Joe Joyce in 2022, and has gained 5 on the spin since. The previous WBO champion’s final two fights have seen him impress, starting with a December 2023 factors win towards Deontay Wilder in a combat that Parker dominated.
The New Zealander backed that up final March with an outstanding majority nod towards Zhilei Zhang, the place Parker received off the deck twice to take the win.
Prediction: Parker begins as an underdog right here, however I feel if he can get previous the primary 4 or 5 rounds, he can field his solution to changing into a two-time world champion on factors.
“I have to be me, execute the plan & become champion of the world!” 
Joseph Parker on learn how to beat Daniel Dubois 
#DuboisParker |#RiyadhSeason | Sky Sports activities Field Workplace pic.twitter.com/P3rFJNZ1lB
— Sky Sports activities Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 18, 2025
Sheeraz makes an attempt to dethrone Adames
Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) goes for world honours for the primary time, as he takes on WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs). Sheeraz hasn’t been the space since 2018, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he handles the championship tempo right here. The slough man was out thrice final 12 months, wiping out Liam Williams inside a spherical earlier than stopping Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams practically 4 months later.
Sheeraz was final out in September final 12 months, stopping Tyler Denny in two. Adames had a spell as WBC interim champion, and was then upgraded, and the Dominican was seen as soon as in 2024, defending for the primary time in a large factors win towards Terrell Gausha in Las Vegas.
Sheeraz destroyed Denny final outing (Photograph Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Prediction: Sheeraz is hard-hitting, and no-one has been capable of dwell along with his energy so far. I feel he can grow to be the brand new champion inside schedule.
Buatsi and Smith battle for home pleasure
The principle present is opened by a contest that might grace the primary occasion in most locations on this planet, and Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) can defend his interim WBO mild heavyweight crown towards Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs), with a transparent win on the playing cards the most definitely final result.
“This will be fight & performance of the night” 
Joshua Buatsi’s in search of a giant assertion victory over Callum Smith
#SmithBuatsi x #DuboisParker |#RiyadhSeason | Sky Sports activities Field Workplace pic.twitter.com/lmI1adbV3C
— Sky Sports activities Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 19, 2025
Ortiz and Madrimov go to struggle
Vergil Ortiz Jr (22-0, 21 KOs) was compelled to listen to the ultimate bell for the primary time as a professional in his final outing, and the American can defend his WBC interim tremendous welterweight title towards Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs), who misplaced his WBA title to Terence Crawford final August. Ortiz is likely to be compelled to go the space once more to get his hand raised.
Can Kabayel keep away from getting Banged?
Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) seems to be to proceed to get again into the combination at heavyweight, and after stopping Deontay Wilder in his most up-to-date contest final June, ‘Large Bang’ can declare the interim WBC title with a stoppage win towards Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs), though the Chinese language big does begin because the underdog.
Zhang destroyed Wilder in 5 rounds in June Photograph Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Shakur faces late alternative after combat week drama
After a irritating 2024, the place he boxed solely as soon as, Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) was resulting from defend his WBC light-weight title towards fellow American Floyd Schofield, however Schofield was hospitalised, and in steps Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KOs) for the prospect of a lifetime on simply three days’ discover.
Padley shocked Mark Chamberlain in his final combat, however this seems to be a bridge too far, and Stevenson ought to retain, probably through late stoppage.
Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC light-weight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia towards undefeated Josh Padley on three-days discover.
Padley steps in for Schofield, who withdrew from the combat towards Stevenson resulting from an sickness, his promoters Golden Boy confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Vm0cPez2Ou
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) February 19, 2025
Additional undercard preview
In six rounders, Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0-1, 1 KO) can document a factors win in his tremendous light-weight assembly with Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-20, 5 KOs), and light-weight novice Mohammed Alakel (2-0, 0 KOs) can do the identical towards Engel Gomez (8-42-3, 4 KOs).
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