A tempting continuation: what to expect from the rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol

The rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will be the main event in boxing in 2025, experts interviewed by Izvestia are sure. The chairman of the General Directorate of Entertainment of Saudi Arabia, Turki Al Al-Sheikh, officially named the date of the upcoming fight. It is scheduled for February 22 in Riyadh.

Different opinions

The first fight between Beterbiev and Bivol took place on October 12 - at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Beterbiev then held the WBC, IBF and WBO championship belts, while Bivol held the WBA title. The bout turned out to be an even fight. Bivol took the first half of the fight, hit more often, worked well serially. Beterbiev pressed, threw a lot of punches, but often hit the block - Bivol skillfully defended. However, Beterbiev, who was emotionally supported by the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, gradually began to turn the situation in his favor and won the last three rounds.

In the end, the judges gave the victory to Beterbiev. One of them - Pavel Kardyni - considered that Beterbiev had won eight rounds and Bivol only four, which greatly angered the St. Petersburg team.

Bivol's manager Vadim Kornilov gave several interviews, harshly criticizing the referee's decision. In an interview with Izvestia, he even admitted that Beterbiev's team and fans knew the result of the fight before the official announcement. For Beterbiev, this fight was the first time in professional boxing when he failed to defeat his opponent early.

Bivol, despite the loss, did not shut himself off from the media: he paid a lot of attention to journalists the night after the fight. Bivol did not complain about the judges and made it clear that he was determined to have a rematch.

Beterbiev, on his flight to Russia, said he saw no reason for a rematch.

- I think we have already dotted all the i's with Bivol," he said in an interview with RT. - His team is trying to make a story out of nothing about the referee's verdict, but I won the fight. If it had been otherwise, I would not have been given the victory. Suffice it to say that my promoters were not present in Riyadh - unlike Dmitry's representatives. So talking about how much everything was deserved doesn't bother me. I got my hand raised and that's it. Of course, I would have liked to win more confidently, but we have what we have. In my opinion, there is not much point in talking about a rematch. Of course, if there is an interesting offer, we will consider it. But are there any good reasons for a return fight? Everything was clear and straightforward.

However, on November 25, Beterbiev asked his fans in social networks whether a rematch with Bivol was necessary, posting a photo where he gives Bivol an accurate punch. In addition, Beterbiev's coaches Mark Ramsey and John Scully spoke in favor of a rematch - hot on the heels of the fight.

Equal chances

Despite Beterbiev's win in the first fight, there is no favorite in the rematch, as the fight on October 12 turned out to be an even, mostly draw. Beterbiev showed that he was capable of outscoring Bivol in terms of total punches, but had trouble opening up his block. Bivol showed that he was capable of outscoring Beterbiev in isolated stretches and great defense, but lost in stamina.

- It's going to be a great, terrific fight, where all the dots will be dotted," former world heavyweight champion Denis Lebedev told Izvestia.

- Perhaps this is the main event in world boxing next year. It is very good that both agreed to a rematch and we will be able to see it. It's not a fact that Bivol will be able to get back for the last defeat, but still it's a great chance for Dmitry to prove that the judges' decision in the first fight was wrong. In that fight, whoever had their hand raised would have had questions, because Artur and Dmitry are very close.

Two-time Olympic boxing champion Alexey Tishchenko is of the same opinion.

- Expectations from this fight are prohibitive," Tishchenko told Izvestia. - I think it will be at the same level of tension as the previous one. The result can be completely unexpected, and everything will depend on how well the boxers will approach this fight in physical form and who will do the best work on mistakes. But, of course, in terms of motivation ahead of Dmitry, because he has no belts, he clearly wants to get back for the defeat, because the fight was equal, and the choice of judges was ambiguous.

Bob Arum, the head of the Top Rank promotional company, said in early October that Biterbiev and Bivol's guaranteed fees for the first fight would be $10 million each. For the rematch, the boxers are sure to get no less. Beterbiev repeatedly said after the fight that he might agree to a rematch in case of a tempting offer.