Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are set to face off again in a light heavyweight rematch on February 22 in Saudi Arabia. The two fighters will put all four major world titles on the line in their second bout following their first clash in October.
Oleksandr Usyk, the heavyweight champion, shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight. In an interview with TNT Sports, Usyk called it a "50-50" matchup, highlighting how evenly matched these two boxers are.
The first fight saw Beterbiev come out on top with a points decision after rallying from a slow start. Before that bout, both fighters boasted undefeated records and were considered the cream of the crop in the light heavyweight division.
Beterbiev's record was particularly impressive. He had won all his previous fights by knockout, with one notable exception. In his bout against Callum Johnson, Beterbiev got knocked down but still managed to secure a KO victory.
Bivol, while not packing the same punch as Beterbiev, has proven his skill in the ring. His most notable victory came against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, whom he defeated by points decision.
Callum Smith, who has faced both fighters, offered his take on the rematch. Smith lost to Bivol on points as an amateur and was stopped by Beterbiev in their professional bout. He leans slightly towards Bivol, citing the Russian's youth as a potential advantage.
The February 22 card looks to be a big one. Daniel Dubois will defend his IBF world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker on the same night, adding to an already stacked event.
"Both Beterbiev and Bivol are pound-for-pound contenders," said Bob Arum, Beterbiev's promoter. "This rematch will show us who truly is the best in the division."
With both fighters having tasted defeat for the first time against each other, the rematch promises to be a thrilling contest. Fans and experts alike are eager to see if Beterbiev can repeat his victory or if Bivol will even the score.
