Historic Light-Heavyweight Boxing Showdown in Riyadh to Feature Beterbiev vs Bivol

Russian boxing rivals Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are set to face off in a highly anticipated light-heavyweight title showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. This contest marks the first undisputed title fight within the division since 1999 and the inaugural occasion where all four major world titles—WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC—are contested in the era of the four-belt system.

England’s Raven Chapman will feature on the undercard of this historic event, engaging in the first-ever women’s world title fight held in Saudi Arabia. Chapman is scheduled to compete against Skye Nicolson, the WBC featherweight champion from Australia. In the cruiserweight division, Jai Opetaia of Australia will defend his IBF title against British challenger Jack Massey. Additionally, British heavyweight Fabio Wardley will have a rematch against Frazer Clarke following their previous draw in March.

Live coverage of the event will commence at 17:00 BST, with undercard bouts starting at 19:00. The ringwalk for the main event featuring Beterbiev and Bivol is not expected prior to 23:00. Fans can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, beginning at 20:00 BST. DAZN will broadcast the fight live worldwide, excluding the U.S. and Canada, with a pay-per-view price set at £19.99 for UK viewers. In the UK, the event will also air on Sky Sports Box Office and TNT Sports Box Office.

Artur Beterbiev, aged 39, will bring his WBO, WBC, and IBF titles to the ring, while the 33-year-old Bivol presents the WBA belt as part of the contest. Beterbiev boasts a perfect knockout record, having won all 20 of his professional fights within the distance, becoming a world champion in 2017. His counterpart, Bivol, turned professional in 2014 and has steadily climbed to prominence, notably with a victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2022.

The bout will also feature the expertise of referee Thomas Taylor, who brings his experience from overseeing over 670 fights, including notable matchups such as the draw between Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller on a Riyadh Season card. Judges for the event include Glenn Feldman (United States), Manuel Oliver Palomo (Spain), and Pawel Kardyni (Poland).

Promoter Eddie Hearn, alongside commentators Steve Bunce and former world champion Darren Barker, have highlighted the significance of the main event and the accompanying bouts. Discussions regarding the evolution of Riyadh as a growing center for boxing have accompanied the build-up to this event. Scheduled fighters, including Nicolson and Opetaia, have shared their insights on their preparations for the spotlight in Riyadh.