A night of intense boxing action awaits fans as a seven-title fight card unfolds in Riyadh on Saturday, February 22. Topping the bill is the much-anticipated world heavyweight title contest where IBF champion Daniel Dubois will defend his title against challenger Joseph Parker. The evening promises high stakes and electrifying matchups, including the highly awaited rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
The undercard action kicks off at 7.30pm local time (16:30 GMT) with a thrilling encounter between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith. However, it is the heavyweight clash that has fans on the edge of their seats. Dubois, 27, returns to the ring following a spectacular first defense of his IBF belt against Anthony Joshua. Meanwhile, Joseph Parker, who held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018, aims to reclaim his position at the top after losing a unanimous decision to Joshua.
Another centerpiece of the event is the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev, an undefeated Russian-Canadian boxer of Chechen heritage, triumphed in their first meeting in October 2024. This time, they vie for five prestigious titles: the WBA, IBF, WBO, World Boxing Council (WBC), and The Ring belts. The prize money for this fight is expected to surpass the $20 million mark set for their previous bout, which had an evenly split purse.
Artur Beterbiev, standing at five feet, 11.5 inches tall (1.82m), boasts an impressive professional record of 21 victories, with 20 by knockout. He remains confident and focused on retaining his titles.
“My goal now is to keep my belts. I will do my best to do that.” – Artur Beterbiev
Beterbiev acknowledges the challenge ahead but remains unfazed by the prospect of a revenge-seeking Bivol.
“He has revenge if he wants revenge, no problem. I need to be better enough to win. Big, small or medium, I don’t know, but I need to be better enough to win.” – Artur Beterbiev
Reflecting on their last encounter, Beterbiev is determined to deliver a decisive victory this time around.
“I don’t know [why I did not knock him out]. He was lucky that night. I think February 22, we are going to see a good fight. My message is be ready, nothing more.” – Artur Beterbiev
Dmitry Bivol, with a professional record of 23 wins and one loss, is equally motivated to turn the tables in their rematch.
“I hope I can give a better performance than I did before, and I believe I can be the winner of this fight,” – Dmitry Bivol
As anticipation builds for the showdown in Riyadh, fans eagerly await the weigh-in scheduled for Friday at 9.30pm (18:30 GMT). The main event will see Beterbiev and Bivol begin their ring walks at 1am local time (22:00 GMT), promising a thrilling conclusion to a night of top-tier boxing.
