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The stage is set for a thrilling light heavyweight unification rematch as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol successfully made weight ahead of their clash on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two elite fighters first met in October last year, with Beterbiev claiming a majority decision victory in a hard-fought 12-round battle.
At Friday’s weigh-in, Beterbiev hit the scale at 175 pounds, while Bivol registered slightly lighter at 174.1 pounds. With the WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO, and The Ring light heavyweight titles on the line, Bivol is determined to seize the undisputed championship in their highly anticipated rematch.
Despite the excitement surrounding Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2, the event saw some unexpected changes earlier this week. Shakur Stevenson and Joseph Parker both lost their original opponents, Floyd Schofield and Daniel Dubois, respectively.
To fill the gaps, Josh Padley challenges Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title, while Martin Bakole takes on Parker on just two days’ notice in a high-stakes heavyweight showdown.
However, due to travel delays, Bakole could not weigh in at the scheduled time. This led to a lighthearted moment, with Parker jokingly facing off against Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren while awaiting his opponent’s arrival.
All other fighters successfully made weight, confirming an action-packed night ahead:
Artur Beterbiev (175.0) vs. Dmitry Bivol (174.1)
Martin Bakole (still en route) vs. Joseph Parker (267.0)
Shakur Stevenson (134.1) vs. Josh Padley (134.0)
Carlos Adames (158.1) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (159.0)
Vergil Ortiz Jr. (153.1) vs. Israil Madrimov (152.1)
Zhilei Zhang (287.5) vs. Agit Kabayel (241.0)
Joshua Buatsi (175.0) vs. Callum Smith (174.1)
With all fighters locked in, Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 promises an unforgettable night of championship boxing.