As the anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol approaches this Saturday, statistics from their previous encounter are being scrutinized closely. In their last fight, Bivol demonstrated superior accuracy, landing 34% of his total punches and 50% of his power shots, compared to Beterbiev’s 20% and 29%, respectively. Despite this, Beterbiev edged out a majority decision due to his effective power punches, prompting their eagerly awaited rematch.
Beterbiev, who holds an undefeated record of 21-0 with 20 knockouts, aims to defend his undisputed light heavyweight title against Bivol, who is 23-1 and ready to avenge his first career loss. Bivol expressed confidence heading into the fight, stating, “I have another chance. Not too many people get another chance.”
Alongside this headline rematch, an exciting undercard features several notable fights, including Carlos Adames taking on Hamzah Sheeraz and Vergil Ortiz Jr. facing Israil Madrimov. Both Adames and Ortiz have shown impressive skills in their recent bouts, setting the stage for dynamic matchups.
Kabayel also shone in his heavyweight bout against Zhilei Zhang, overcoming a height and weight disadvantage to knock out Zhang in the sixth round, while Callum Smith secured a unanimous decision victory over Joshua Buatsi to claim the WBO lightweight title.
The rematch for Beterbiev and Bivol will unfold at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET, and fans can expect a thrilling event that showcases some of boxing’s best talent. Each fighter is aware of the stakes: Bivol seeks redemption while Beterbiev aims to solidify his dominance in the division.
This fight has the potential to reshape the landscape of the light heavyweight division, highlighting the resilience and determination displayed by fighters who continue to evolve in the sport. If Bivol can implement the lessons learned from his first encounter, fans could be in for a ride filled with excitement and skilled exchanges.