Beterbiev-Bivol 2: Live updates, boxing results, analysis
Artur Beterbiev makes the first defense of his undisputed light heavyweight championship against Dmitry Bivol, in the main event of a jam-packed boxing card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday (DAZN PPV, 10:30 a.m. ET)
Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) unified all four major titles with a majority decision victory against Bivol in October. Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) started strong, but he faded at the end. Beterbiev won the last three rounds in all three judges’ scorecards to win 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114 in a very entertaining bout.
Unlike the first fight, Beterbiev enters Saturday’s rematch as a slight favorite (-120 per ESPN BET). Beterbiev has held at least one of the belts since Nov. 11, 2017 — an incredible seven-plus-year reign as a champ.
Also on the card, former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and top contender Martin Bakole will meet for the WBO heavyweight interim title. Parker was scheduled to face IBF champ Daniel Dubois, but Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness Thursday.
Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), won the WBO belt in 2016 after defeating Andy Ruiz Jr. He made two defenses before losing a unanimous decision to Anthony Joshua in March 2018. Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) scored an upset of Jared Anderson back in August with a fifth-round KO victory in Los Angeles.
To complete the seven-fight main card, Shakur Stevenson takes on late replacement Josh Padley for Stevenson’s WBC lightweight title. Carlos Adames puts his WBC middleweight belt on the line against Hamzah Sheeraz, and Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Israil Madrimov will fight for the vacant WBC junior middleweight interim title. There are also two fight for interim titles. Joshua Buatsi defends his WBO light heavyweight interim belt against Callum Smith, and Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel will battle for the vacant WBC heavyweight interim title.
Stay here for live updates, results and round-by-round analysis from Riyadh.
In boxing, rematches usually reflect much of the first battle, with maybe a few added twists and turns. Dmitry Bivol, just four months removed from his controversial loss to Artur Beterbiev back in October for the undisputed light heavyweight title, will be looking for redemption when they meet again Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (DAZN PPV, 11 a.m. ET). Beterbiev got the nod by majority decision in the first fight, even though Bivol had the numbers to prove he did enough to win. And chances are we will get another close fight.
Although the judges declared Beterbiev the winner the first time, many fans and analysts believe Bivol’s performance warranted a different outcome, and that storyline sets the stage for heightened anticipation.
One thing is clear: Bivol needs to be more vigilant in his approach the second time. And maybe better prepared. He lost the last three rounds on all three judges’ scorecards, and that cost him the fight.
Let’s look at what both Beterbiev and Bivol can and should do better in the rematch.
Take a look at the numbers behind Artur Beterbiev’s first fight against Dmitry Bivol ahead of their upcoming rematch.
Based on watching the first match, I believe both camps’ training regimens were nothing short of tremendous. I’m sure the fighters woke at sunrise, pounding the pavement and running extra miles deep in meditation, each rehearsing their approach to achieving the right outcome in the fight. Roadwork was more important than in any previous fight camps for both fighters, and they showed it in the ring.
Undoubtedly, both fighters hit the heavy bags inside the gym until their arms felt heavy and sore. Sparring helped them perfect their game plans, as they sharpened their timing and rhythm, with three or four sparring partners flown in to imitate the opponent’s formidable style. Both teams probably dissected countless hours of footage of their previous fights. I’m sure exhaustion weighed heavily on the fighters’ bodies and minds from the torturous workouts.
Both teams did their work. What set them apart came on fight night, when Beterbiev won and Bivol lost. I’m sure the taste of defeat still lingers in Bivol’s consciousness. He knows he must enter this rematch stronger and more prepared than he did the first fight. Bivol knows he gave it all, but it wasn’t enough. Beterbiev, in contrast, knows that luck was on his side the first time, and if he has any doubts ahead of the rematch, they concern whether he can do it again.
I’m sure both teams have rigorously analyzed the first fight, noting their fighters’ vulnerable moments and mistakes. Team Bivol and Team Beterbiev recognize that proper adjustments and a slightly different approach will be necessary, as I did while watching film of their first encounter.
Bivol neglected to tie up and fight back in critical spots. He also failed to bang to the body to break down the visibly robust Beterbiev and slow his momentum down the stretch. Beterbiev’s late-fight rally won him the championship rounds, ultimately winning him the fight.
Early in the fight, though, Beterbiev did not put forth nearly enough feints or move his head to avoid being countered by Bivol’s level-change attacks, stiff jabs and right crosses, all of which found a target over Beterbiev’s slow, lingering mid-range jabs.
Fatigue was an issue for both fighters, especially for Bivol down the stretch. But Beterbiev had also issues at the midway point of the match, as countering opportunities opened up for Bivol as he stood his ground. Bivol unleashed combinations and advanced, taking a lead after five rounds on two of the three judges’ scorecards. However, fatigue was noticeable in him toward the back end of the fight, as Bivol’s offense slowed.
One thing Bivol and his team would have been wise to do ahead of the rematch is more diverse strength training. Lifting more weights but incorporating light weights with high amounts of reps can build endurance. Also, using heavy weights with fewer reps can build overall strength and sustainable explosive power. Improved stamina could be crucial for victory in the rematch.
Aside from focusing on strength, Bivol needs to adjust technically and tactically, inserting more jabs to keep distance and left hooks to turn Beterbiev away from his most dominant positioning. That would help Bivol improve his chances in 50/50 exchanges, as would emphasizing endurance in his offense for more punch output. One way to build that endurance: supplementing long-distance training runs with high-intensity interval training.
I assume Beterbiev and his team have focused their training on some of the same things that Bivol needed to, since strength, punching power and endurance are staples of Beterbiev’s success. However, if I were training him for the rematch, I would have focused more on footwork, cutting off the ring and preparing Beterbiev for Bivol’s exits with a sustainable body attack to stunt his mobility and weaken him sooner. From a technical aspect, Bivol had trouble slowing down the pace of the fight with his technical abilities and lateral movement. Lo and behold, Beterbiev out-jabbed, outworked and swallowed up any space Bivol looked to overtake. Getting into a firefight sooner rather than later, and starting faster, may be Beterbiev’s best strategic approach for this rematch.
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One underlying element to training that’s often overlooked is nutrition, which has always been a building block for optimum performance. Being properly fueled for any competition can be the difference between winning, losing, fading or emerging. Gone are the days of comfort, especially for those embarking on battlegrounds far away from home and wrestling with unfamiliar cuisines. It’s essential to understand the direct connection between fuel and performance. Fighters should consume lean proteins such as eggs, chicken, fish and steak and high levels of complex carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables, pasta, brown rice and oatmeal to ensure the body is well-equipped for the demands needed during the contest.
Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev speak ahead of their rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Fatigue impacted Bivol’s first performance. He came into the fight well-prepared, but in the later rounds he struggled with his energy level and stamina. We’ve seen Bivol throw over 700 punches against Canelo Alvarez. But against Beterbiev, who kept up a steady pace and threw 600 punches himself, Bivol had difficulty keeping up with a little over 400 punches.
If Bivol wants to win in this rematch, he must find a way to break Beterbiev’s forward momentum and find a way to hurt him. Beterbiev’s determination to win makes his punching power even more daunting. The numbers tell the story. Together they threw approximately 1,000 punches, with Beterbiev far outpacing Bivol. Bivol, the skilled boxer, was up against a powerhouse in Beterbiev, whose combination of strength and smarts was hard to handle. With Beterbiev stepping into the ring injury-free and still showing impressive energy and the spirit to battle even at 40 years of age, Bivol has a tough mental and physical task ahead of him.
To dethrone Beterbiev, Bivol will need more than just skill. He’ll have to outposition Beterbiev (staying set to punch or orchestrate attacks from advantageous positions). Also, he must look to be first to strike and also last to do so during sequences, and he must withstand Beterbiev’s relentless offense with side exits (moving laterally) while staying close to his opponent’s shoulders and stepping around him instead of going straight back, to avoid getting countered.
If Bivol can’t adapt and take control early on and maintain it late, he might find himself in the same situation as before, running out of gas as the fight continues.
The path to victory for Bivol’s redemption will require a heavy dose of resiliency and output. However, like in the movies, the bogeyman always seems to catch up to the main character. And the bogeyman here happens to be Beterbiev. It’ll be a slightly different fight but the same outcome: Beterbiev for the win.
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EDITOR’S PICKS
What the numbers tell us about Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2
4hAndres Ferrari
Ranking boxing fights: Beterbiev-Bivol 2, Dubois-Parker, more
4dNick Parkinson
Back from the brink: Can Joseph Parker topple Daniel Dubois for heavyweight glory?
3dJames Regan
A look at the first fight
What both Beterbiev and Bivol need to fix
How both Beterbiev and Bivol can adjust
The X factor: Nutrition
How the rematch could play out
Who wins?
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Results: Full Fight Card Results And Reactions
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 21: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol face off during the weigh-in … [+]
One of the most anticipated boxing events of early 2025 goes down today at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That event, “The Last Crescendo,” features seven title fights on the DAZN pay-per-view card. The headlining bout is an eagerly awaited rematch. In that contest, Artur Beterbiev puts his undisputed light heavyweight championship on the line against the man he took the WBA title from in October via majority decision, Dmitry Bivol. Also on the card, Joseph Parker puts his WBO interim heavyweight title on the line against Martin Bakole. Before that, Shakur Stevenson meets Josh Padley for Stevenson’s WBC lightweight belt. We have live coverage of the entire fight card and will update the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 card results as they happen on Saturday, February 22.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Start time is expected to be 11: a.m. ET
Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
DAZN Pay-Per-View
$25.99
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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
Vergil Ortiz Jr defeats Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113)
Agit Kabayel defeats Zhilei Zhang via knockout (2:29 of Round 6)
Callum Smith defeats Joshua Buatsi via unanimous decision (119-110, 115-113, 116-112)
Mohammed Alakel defeats Engel Gomez via decision
Ziyad Almaayouf defeats Jonatas de Oliveira via decision (60-54 x 3)
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 22: Vergil Ortiz Jr punches Israil Madrimov during the WBC Interim … [+]
Coming off the first loss of his professional career, an August 2024 decision setback to Terence Crawford, Israil Madrimov opened his fight against WBC interim super welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. by using his footwork and movement to frustrate and possibly tire Ortiz. That’s not to say he wasn’t active with his punches because he was firing jabs into, and sometimes through, Ortiz’s high defensive guard.
As the fight wore on, Madrimov slowly reduced his circling to the outside, which allowed Ortiz, who never became frustrated with his opponent’s movement, to pick up on the timing of Madrimov. The commentary team also began to question the visual of Madrimov’s movement when looking at the judging, as Ortiz seemed to be pushing the action.
With Madrimov looking to engage a little more in the second half of the contest, Ortiz did a much better job of cutting off the ring and upping his output. By the time the ninth round rolled around, Madrimov’s footwork had slowed, and Ortiz began to control the contest’s location and pace while unloading with power punches to the head and body.
The style of the fight changed once again in the 10th round. It seemed as if Madrimov and his team realized they were in trouble, which resulted in an aggressive Madrimov. That adjustment suited Ortiz just fine as he answered Madrimov with his own aggression. The 11th round was more of the same from both men.
Madrimov and Ortiz were aggressive in the 12th and final round, but again, it seemed that Ortiz was landing the more powerful punches.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 22: Agit Kabayel knocks down Zhilei Zhang which later resutls in a … [+]
Zhilei Zhang looked confident and comfortable, and he tried to force Agit Kabayel into corners where he could uncork a power punch. Meanwhile, Kabayel looked to stay light on his feet, fight behind a jab, and score to the body while circling out and avoiding the power.
Kabayel became much more aggressive in the second round, which was a surprise. I would have thought that his plan would have been to tax Zhang’s cardio in the first few rounds and then look to score as his opponent was tired and slowing. But, no, Kabayel and his team seemed to think three minutes was enough to give him the advantage.
Kabayel continued his fast pace in the third. He also looked to go to Zhang’s body, something he had success with in the second stanza. It also seemed as if Kabayel had decided that Zhang’s ability to score a one-punch knockout had passed after the first round.
Kabayel’s approach worked well until he got dropped in the fifth round. Kabayel got back to his feet and looked as if he recovered well as he got right back to moving and looking to score to the body, which nearly earned Kabayel a knockdown in the sixth round before the referee stepped in for some odd reason and prevented Kabayel from landing more body blows. However, that knockdown came later in the sixth. With 40 seconds left in the round, Kabayel put his opponent to a knee, and Zhang could not get back to his feet before the referee waved off the fight.
With the victory, the 32-year-old Kabayel earned the vacant WBC interim heavyweight belt.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 22: Callum Smith punches Joshua Buatsi during the WBO Interim World … [+]
This was an excellent light heavyweight scrap. Joshua Buatsi carried the WBO interim title into the contest with a 19-0 record. Meanwhile, Smith was 30-2 heading into Saturday’s event, with his only losses coming to Artur Beterbiev and Canelo Alvarez. The pace was hectic to open this contest and both men showed strong technical skills.
Smith seemed to want to keep the fight at range, where he could throw his punches with 100 percent power. Meanwhile, Buatsi wanted to work close when possible and force his opponent into the ropes.
Buatsi had some success in the third round with body shots, and it looked like he would score a knockdown. However, Smith recovered from the damage and came back to do some good work from range in the fourth stanza, but he closed the round with a cut beside his right eye.
Smith’s corner didn’t like him throwing everything with power as the fight wore on because it allowed Buatsi to score with counters when Smith failed to connect.
Smith scored with a body shot in the fifth, and as Buatsi was trying to recover, Smith picked up his pace and looked to add more damage.
Smith’s corner encouraged him to work the body more in the sixth. Smith took control of that round with Buatsi’s body compromised. With that, he attacked the head and body and looked to close things out, but Buatsi came back in the closing moments of the sixth.
Smith’s aggression in the sixth seemed to slow his output in the seventh. Meanwhile, Buatsi was also fighting flatfooted. By the eighth round, the technical aspect of the fight seemed to be replaced by less output and more single power punches from both men.
When the end of the back-and-forth ninth round came, Buatsi’s corner told him he needed a knockout to win the fight. Smith landed nearly three times as many power punches in the ninth stanza.
Buatsi did a good job of working angles in the 10th round, and he scored well to the body, but Smith held on and came back late in the round to land some heavy head shots. Smith might have been better served to mix up his targets in the 10th.
Buatsi’s success in the 10th carried into the 11th and seemed to give him momentum and motivation as he pushed forward and made Smith fight off his back foot.
With a minute expired in the 12th, Smith scored with powerful head shots. Buatsi took those shots, recovered, and tried to come back with power shots of his own, which he did as the fight went into its final minute.
With the unanimous decision win, Smith took possession of the WBO light heavyweight interim title.
Buatsi vs. Smith was an incredible scrap to open the main card, and it would make for an interesting rematch, depending on the outcome of the main event.
CompuBox Stats: Ortiz Vs. Madrimov
CompuBox Stats: Kabayel Vs. Zhang
Compubox Stats: Smith Vs. Buatsi
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2: 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
Artur Beterbiev Vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 Full Card Betting Odds – Updated
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 21: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol face off during the weigh-in … [+]
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.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 21: Artur Beterbiev poses for a photo during the weigh-in ahead of … [+]
“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.”
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 21: Dmitrii Bivol on the scales during the weigh-in as part of … [+]
“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
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: Odds, Lines, Prop Bets, Predictions And Picks
We will update the Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 results live during tonight’s fight card from Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Also included will be reactions, video highlights and more.
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Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Full Fight Card
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Full Fight Card Results
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Results: Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Israil Madrimov At Super Welterweight
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Results: Agit Kabayel Vs. Zhilei Zhang At Heavyweight
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Results: Joshua Buatsi Vs. Callum Smith At Light Heavyweight
Beterbiev Vs Bivol 2 Results – Compubox Stats
Beterbiev Vs Bivol 2 Fight Card Scheduled Ring Walk Times
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2 Breakdown
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2: Artur Beterbiev On Dmitry Bivol Rematch
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 2: Dmitry Bivol On Artur Beterbiev Rematch
Beterbiev Vs. Bivol 1 Full Fight Video And Notes
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