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Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol have made weight for their highly anticipated light heavyweight unification bout, set for Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev, holding the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles, weighed in at 174.96 pounds, while WBA titleholder Bivol came in at 174.12 pounds. This fight will crown the undisputed light heavyweight champion for the first time in the four-belt era, marking a significant moment in boxing history.
Both fighters are undefeated and ready for a historic clash. Beterbiev, known for his ferocious knockout power, puts his three titles on the line, while Bivol, fresh off his victory over pound-for-pound king Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, looks to add to his legacy.
“I was trying to reach my limits for preparation,” Bivol said ahead of the fight, signaling his readiness for the biggest bout of his career.
Promoter Eddie Hearn echoed the fight's significance, stating,
"Bivol already slayed the pound-for-pound king in Alvarez, and this is what he wants more than anything. I believe Dmitry Bivol will be the undisputed champion tomorrow night."
The last undisputed champion in the division was Roy Jones Jr., who held the crown from 1999 to 2002 during the three-belt era. Saturday’s fight will not only make history for the division but also solidify the winner as one of the greatest light heavyweights of the modern era.
The weigh-in also set the stage for an exciting undercard. British heavyweights Fabio Wardley (241.6 pounds) and Frazer Clarke (271.3 pounds) will meet in a rematch after their previous fight ended in a draw. Jai Opetaia, the IBF cruiserweight champion, and Jack Massey both weighed in at 14st 3lb, with Opetaia aiming for future unification bouts. Additionally, Skye Nicolson and Raven Chapman will make history as the first women’s boxing world title fight in Saudi Arabia.
The event promises an electrifying night of boxing, with the Beterbiev vs. Bivol showdown set to be a defining moment in the sport.
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