I think I am now at a point where I am running out of superlatives for Riyadh Season, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and the current state of Boxing in general. It has to be the greatest spell of Boxing for years. We are seeing the best fight the best, in abundance. And on Saturday night, it really doesn’t get any bigger than ‘the best vs the best’, in the form of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Whenever an ‘Undisputed‘ fight comes along in boxing, it’s a big deal. It doesn’t happen often, and there are grounds for this being the case. Once a fighter becomes a World Champion, they may have to defend the belt against a Mandatory Challenger before they can go and fight for a second World Title. Once they have Unified the belts (obtained two/three World Title belts), the process starts again in the form of Mandatory Challenges, but in greater numbers due to the amount of belts on the table. It can be seen as nigh on impossible to obtain all four World Titles in boxing (plus the Ring Magazine and the IBO World Title if you want to throw that in the mix for good measure), through Mandatory Challenges, Politics of boxing, Promoters, differing broadcasters and injuries along the way. It becomes a real grey area.
However, none of those stumbling blocks have been an issue in this fight being made (ignoring the date change from June 01st). A lot of the credit of course has to go to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who has been incredibly pivotal in ensuring the promoters and the broadcasters are doing everything they can to work together to get these outstanding fights made.
To further elaborate just how big this fight is on Saturday night, there is much more to this fight than just the World Title Belts (if you can believe that), where other factors coming into play include;
- Both Dmitry Bivol & Artur Beterbiev are Countrymen of Russia. Both born in the Soviet Union, with Dmitry Bivol being born in Tokmok, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union and Artur Beterbiev being born in Khasavyurt, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.
- Both Dmitry Bivol & Artur Beterbiev have undefeated professional records at Light Heavyweight, with Dmitry Bivols record coming in at 23/0 with 12 Knockouts, and Artur Beterbievs record coming in with an impressive perfect record of 20/0 with 20 Knockouts.
- Both Dmitry Bivol & Artur Beterbiev are ranked in The Ring Magazines Top 10 Pound for Pound list, with Artur Beterbiev Ranked #6 and Dmitry Bivol Ranked #7.
- Both Dmitry Bivol & Artur Beterbiev have incredible Amateur Records, with Dmitry Bivols Record sat at 268-15, and Artur Beterbievs Record sat at 295-5. Incredible figures.
- All World Title Belts will be on the line for this Fight including WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, The Ring Magazine, IBO and Undisputed.
This is the greatest fight that can be made in Boxing, without question. We are in an era where the best are genuinely fighting the best, and this fight encapsulates this wholeheartedly. I don’t even want to give a prediction for Saturday Night. With Artur Beterbievs Knockout style which has amassed a record of 20 Wins & 20 Knockouts against Dmitry Bivols Tactical Soviet Style with sharp counters and slick footwork, we are in for a treat on Saturday night. Tuning in is a must.
It is quite incredible that this main event in the form of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol is the tip of the iceberg on Saturday, with an outstanding and stacked card from top to bottom kicking off proceedings to accompany such an outstanding event. The visual below just shows the depth of quality for Saturday Nights Fight Night.
The chief support for Saturday evening comes in the form of Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta. If anything, it is great to see Chris Eubank Jr back in action, and also on the card of a massive fight night. However, in my own opinion this fight should really be third on the bill behind Wardley vs Clarke II (we will come onto that fight next). However, Chris Eubank Jr has an appeal to fight fans, and will want his place as high up the card as possible.
After a rocky start to 2023 with a defeat to Liam Smith in the January, Chris Eubank Jr rectified the defeat with a victory over Smith in the rematch in September 2023, and is now looking to press on with his career with a victory over Kamil Szeremeta on Saturday night. Although Eubank Jr will be hoping to get a victory on Saturday Night and open the pathway for massive fights in 2025, Kamil Szeremeta is no pushover. The Middleweight, hailing from Poland, has only two defeats on his record in the form of the Generational Talent Gennady Golovkin and a defeat to the strong and exciting Jaime Munguía. Since these defeats, Szeremeta is undefeated in 6 fights, and will provide a stern test for Eubank Jr on Saturday Night.
Verdict
I believe Eubank Jr will get the job done on Saturday Night, however he will have his tough moments throughout and it won’t be a walk in the park. After a fairly tough fight, I think Eubank Jr will win the fight on points.
Third on the bill is the pick of the undercard, as Fabio Wardley rematches Frazer Clarke after their first outstanding fight back in March 2024 which ended in a Draw. And if Wardley vs Clarke II is anything like their first fight, then we are in for an incredible Heavyweight match up on Saturday Night. Their first fight back in March still holds ground to be a Fight of the Year contender, with both men slugging it out for 12 Rounds. A real barn burner of a British Heavyweight Fight, this for me will be the fight of the night on Saturday behind the main event.
Verdict
Although Clarke was put down in the 5th Round in their first fight, and also displayed immaturity at that British Level after having a point deducted in the Seventh Round for a visible and clear low blow, I feel as though Wardley was the fighter who looked most war-torn come the end of their first fight, with the visible flowing of blood from the bridge of his nose. If Clarke hadn’t have been dropped in the 5th Round resulting in a 10-8 Round or had a Point deducted in the 7th for the low blow, he could well have won the fight. A Draw was the correct decision in their first fight, however I feel Wardley was the fighter who came worse off, and Clarke will have matured from their first fight and display this on Saturday Night via stoppage in the later rounds (rounds 10-12). A great fight, adding to a great event.
In the middle of the card, we have the best Cruiserweight in the world in Jai Opetaia facing off against Britain’s Jack Massey for Opetaias IBF & Ring Magazine World Titles. Jack Massey gets the opportunity of a lifetime in fighting on an outstanding card, fighting in Saudi Arabia and fighting the best Cruiserweight on the planet in Jai Opetaia for a World Title.
He is a tough competitor is Jack Massey, with only two defeats on his record against Former Heavyweight World Champion Joseph Parker back in January 2023 and Richard Riakporhe back in 2019 (both of which were points victories). Jack Massey has never been stopped as a Professional, so I do think it may be a tougher night for Opetaia than people think. However, there are levels to the game, and Jai Opetaia is the best Cruiserweight on the planet. His victories over Mairis Briedis are legendary, and a win on Saturday night will surely put Jai Opetaia in the picture to fight the winner of Chris Billam-Smith vs Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez November for three World Titles.
Verdict
I believe that Jai Opetaia is the best in the world at Cruiserweight, and knowing that this victory takes him into the possible match up between the winner Chris Billam-Smith vs Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez November for three World Titles. I think Massey has a lot of wear and tear over the years, and Saturday might just be a step too far Saturday night, with Opetaia winning on points in a rough and ready contest.
Ben Whittaker brings the Razzle & Dazzle to Saturday nights card with his eccentric boxing style and showmanship, where faces off against the tough and durable Liam Cameron in a Light Heavyweight contest. Although Liam Cameron has durability and hasn’t been stopped in his six defeats, I think Ben Whittaker will show his class on Saturday night with a shut out points victory.
The rest of the card is made up of the first Female World Title Fight in Saudi Arabia, where Skye Nicolson takes on Raven Chapman for the WBC Featherweight World Title in another Hearn Vs Warren showdown. Kicking off proceedings for the evening is Mohammed Alakel vs Jesus Gonzalez in a Lightweight bout in Alakels Debut Professional Fight.
One for the ages on Saturday Night, and a Fight Night for all Boxing Purists. Whatever you are doing, tune in.
Catch all the action live on Pay Per View on Sky Sports Box Office, DAZN PPV or TNT Box Office in the UK priced at £19.99.
Greg Cooke x BBTV
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