By Arthur Rooks, Boxing Contributor 

Boxing fans worldwide are buzzing as the highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol headlines a star-studded card on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Billed as “The Last Crescendo,” the fight promises to settle unfinished business from their razor-close October showdown, where Beterbiev narrowly edged Bivol via majority decision to unify the light heavyweight division.

In that bout, Beterbiev, 21-0 (20 KOs), fought past the final bell for the first time in his career, while Bivol, 23-1 (12 KOs), suffered his first defeat despite outlanding his opponent 142-134. With both fighters bringing distinct strengths—Beterbiev’s relentless power and Bivol’s precision and volume—this rematch sets the stage for an explosive battle for the undisputed light heavyweight crown.

The undercard is no less compelling, featuring a lineup of championship clashes and rising stars. IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois defends his title against Joseph Parker in a clash of hard-hitting giants, while WBC lightweight kingpin Shakur Stevenson takes on undefeated Floyd Schofield in a bout fueled by social media tensions. Middleweight contender Carlos Adames faces unbeaten Hamzah Sheeraz, and the WBC interim junior middleweight title is up for grabs between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Israil Madrimov.

Adding even more intrigue, Zhilei Zhang battles Agit Kabayel for the WBC interim heavyweight belt, and Joshua Buatsi defends his WBO interim light heavyweight title against Callum Smith. This stacked event not only highlights the best in boxing but also underscores Riyadh’s emergence as a global hub for marquee sports events.