RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 20: The undercard fighters during today’s Final Press Conference … [+]
One of the biggest boxing cards of 2025 is fast approaching. That fight card is the highly anticipated “Last Crescendo” event, which is headlined by a rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev, the undisputed light heavyweight champion puts his WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring titles on the line on Saturday, February 2 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There are also six other title fights on the card. We look at when the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 ring walks are expected, as well as streaming information for the fight card.
When Beterbiev and Bivol first met, Beterbiev sported a 20-0 record and was coming off a January 2024 TKO win over Callum Smith. With that victory, Beterbiev retained the WBC, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles. Meanwhile, Bivol, who was 23-0, had retained his WBA belt with a June 2024 TKO victory over Malik Zinad. The betting odds at the time had Bivol as the -126 favorite to defeat Beterbiev, who was listed as the +104 betting underdog. At the time, both men were ranked inside the pound-for-pound top 10-list.
When the 12-round fight ended, the light heavyweight division had its first undisputed champion since Roy Jones Jr. ruled the division between 1999 and 2002. The fight ended with Beterbiev earning the decision with scorecards of 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114. It was the first time in his career that Beterbiev had not earned a victory via knockout.
After the fight, Beterbiev said, “I wanted to box today with more quality. I don’t know why, but I didn’t like this fight. But I’ll be better one day. … If His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] wants [the rematch], then we can do it.”
“I’m aware I have to do everything perfect, and I don’t have any explanation because it could look like excuses,” Bivol said. “I just [give]
congratulations to Artur and his team. He deserves it, no problem. I just have time to make another decision for my future.”
When asked if he wanted a rematch, Bivol responded, “Why not? … If I have this chance, yes. This is my dream to be undisputed.”
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Full Card
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol for the Undisputed light heavyweight title fight. For Beterbiev’s WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring belts
Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole – For Parkers’ WBO interim heavyweight title
Shakur Stevenson vs. Josh Padley – For Stevenson’s WBC lightweight title
Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz – For Adames’ WBC middleweight title
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Israil Madrimov – For Ortiz Jr’s WBC world interim super welterweight title
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel – For the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title
Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith – For Buatsi’s WBO light heavyweight interim title
Beterbiev Vs Bivol 2 Card Undergoes Two Title Fight Changes
Beterbiev Vs Bivol 2 Scheduled Ring Walk Times
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol: 6:00 p.m. ET
Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole: 4:40 p.m. ET
Shakur Stevenson vs. Josh Padley: 3:35 p.m. ET
Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz: 2:35 p.m. ET
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Israil Madrimov: 1:40 p.m. ET
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel: 12:40 p.m. ET
Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith: 11:45 a.m ET
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Date
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Time
Start time is expected to be 1 p.m. ET
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Location
Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 How To Watch Or Stream
DAZN Pay-Per-View
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 PPV Price
$25.99
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Breakdown
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 20: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol face off during the press … [+]
The only fighter to go the distance with Beterbiev, Bivol looks to even the score with the man who handed him his first career loss. It won’t be easy for Bivol to achieve that goal, but he is a live underdog in this rematch.
Had Bivol been more active in the the first matchup, which ended with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114, he could be the one entering this fight as the undisputed light heavyweight champ. Bivol fought well behind his jab early in the first outing, pressuring Beterbiev and also scoring with counters when he backed up on an angle. However, Bivol got away from both those techniques as the fight wore on. He went long periods of time retreating while not throwing punches. Bivol also allowed Beterbiev to get a read on his footwork, which allowed him to cut off Bivol and tag him with counters.
As for Beterbiev, he can’t allow Bivol to control the pace of the fight at all. He needs to move forward and stick to his opponent from the start of the fight. Beterbiev had a lot of success in the first bout when he followed that game plan, especially when Bivol began to back up in a straight line and not put forth any offense. Beterbiev must correct his tendency to leap into his punches in the rematch, because Bivol was able to time those attacks well.
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2: Artur Beterbiev On Dmitry Bivol Rematch
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 20: Artur Beterbiev during the press conference as part of Beterbiev … [+]
“For a fight, [it will] feel the same,” Beterbiev told DAZN. “I wanted to grab all the belts last time. Now, I want to defend them. It’s been a short time since the first match.”
“If you compare [my other fights], you can say it was my toughest fight,” he added. “But it is a little bit different. I think in my boxing career, I’ve [fought] stronger guys.”
“But you can say it was my toughest fight. Of course [I could have done better]. If you believe you did the best, it is not good. I believe [everything can get better].”
“The knee was a problem in the first fight, but it is near perfect now. My movement should be much better for this fight. My performance in the first fight was not perfect, I know I can do much better in this one.”
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2: Dmitry Bivol On Artur Beterbiev Rematch
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 20: Dmitry Bivol looks on, ahead of his Undisputed Light Heavyweight … [+]
“I saw good moments and bad moments,” Bivol said of the first fight.
“I just need to be better in all positions. I need to be faster, harder, smarter, everything better.”
“I learned about myself, that I don’t like to lose and I need to push myself harder,” he added.
Artur Beterbiev Vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 Fight: Odds, Picks And Prediction
We will have more on the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 card and the Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 fight, including updated betting odds, as fight night approaches. On fight night we will have live results updates for the entire card.
