Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will lock horns for the second time in Riyadh tonight (Image: GETTY)
Another huge night of boxing will take place in Saudi Arabia this evening with Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol going head-to-head for the second time.
The two fighters will renew their rivalry in a highly-anticipated rematch for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship of the world.
Beterbiev handed Bivol his first professional defeat back in October, securing a majority decision on the scorecards to add the WBA belt to his collection.
He will be hoping for a repeat performance this evening, whereas Bivol will be desperate to put things right by avenging his previous loss.
Tonight’s fight card, dubbed ‘The Last Crescendo’, will feature six other captivating bouts on the undercard with no shortage of excitement on offer.
Express Sport brings you all the details you need to know ahead of fight night…
Martin Bakole has been drafted in as a late replacement for Daniel Dubois (Image: GETTY)
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol – 11pm UK time
The main event needs little introduction, with Beterbiev and Bivol trading blows in what promises to be a hugely entertaining bout.
Another win for Beterbiev will bring a definitive end to the rivalry, while Bivol could force a third fight if he gets the job done at the second time of asking.
It remains to be seen which way it will go, but expect sparks to fly between two of the world’s very best fighters.
Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole – 9.40pm
Joseph Parker was initially set to face Daniel Dubois but will instead go up against Martin Bakole, .
Dubois was forced to withdraw from the bout after falling ill and it was confirmed on Thursday that Bakole would be stepping in at short notice.
The 31-year-old demolished Jared Anderson in his last outing in August and will be hoping to spring a surprise against Parker this evening. It will certainly be difficult for him with only a few days’ notice, but stranger things have happened…
Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley – 8.35pm
Josh Padley was working as an electrician on Tuesday but is now in Riyadh preparing for the biggest night of his career.
He has been called up to fight Shakur Stevenson as a late replacement for Floyd Schofield and will be hoping to steal the show with a career-best performance.
Padley, who remains unbeaten, raised eyebrows with a brilliant victory over Mark Chamberlain under the Wembley arch last year. However, the prospect of facing Stevenson in a hastily-arranged bout will mark his biggest challenge yet.
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Josh Padley will face Shakur Stevenson in the biggest fight of his career (Image: GETTY)
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz – 7.35pm
WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames will enter as the underdog against Hamzah Sheeraz, the unbeaten challenger who has knocked out his last 15 opponents.
He has been making a name for himself as a potential star of the division, which has become somewhat stale following the exits of Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
If he beats Adames tonight, he will take his place alongside unified title holder Janibek Alimkhanuly and WBA champion Erislandy Lara at the very top of the pile.
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov – 6.40pm
Vergil Ortiz Jr and Israil Madrimov will square off for the interim WBC junior middleweight title in what looks set to be a close fight between two of the division’s most exciting talents.
Ortiz, who has won all but one of his 22 fights by knockout, claimed the belt with a majority decision victory over Serhii Bohachuk in his last outing.
Madrimov, meanwhile, will be looking for a return to winning ways after being outpointed by pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in August.
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel – 5.40pm
Fresh from a career-best victory over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang will be looking to extend his impressive run against Agit Kabayel in a thrilling heavyweight clash.
The big-hitting Chinese fighter is the clear favourite but Kabayel has an unbeaten record to protect and will fancy his chances of springing a surprise.
With the two knockout artists locking horns in only the second bout of the evening, there could be some early fireworks in Riyadh.
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith – 4.45pm
The event will begin with Joshua Buatsi going up against Callum Smith in a fascinating light-heavyweight bout.
The former took huge strides in 2024 with impressive wins over Dan Azeez and Willy Hutchinson, leaving himself on the brink of world title contention.
Smith, meanwhile, has already been a world champion and his only defeats have come in elite company against Beterbiev and Alvarez.
Both fighters know that victory could earn them a crack at the winner of the main event, meaning there will be plenty on the line.