The Rematch of the Year – World Boxing Association
In 2024, one of the most anticipated showdowns in boxing featured Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. At the time, Bivol entered the ring as the reigning WBA Super Light Heavyweight Champion, while the hard-hitting Canadian held the WBC, IBF, and WBO belts. When the dust settled, Beterbiev emerged victorious, becoming the undisputed king of the 175-pound division. Now, just months later, they meet again to settle unfinished business.
Only four months after their first encounter, Beterbiev and Bivol are set to collide once more in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in what is shaping up to be not just one of the biggest fights of 2025, but one of the defining clashes of the decade. Both men stand among the greatest light heavyweights of the 21st century, and this rematch carries enormous stakes.
Beterbiev didn’t just take the belts—he also handed Bivol the first loss of his career. The first fight was a razor-thin majority decision, with two judges scoring it for Beterbiev and the third calling it a draw. Now, the Russian-born Canadian has even more to prove—was his victory decisive, or does Bivol have the blueprint to reclaim his throne?
On paper, Beterbiev is the bigger puncher. He boasts 20 knockouts in his 21 victories, while Bivol has recorded 12 stoppages in his 23 wins. But there’s one crucial detail: the only man Beterbiev has failed to knock out is Bivol.
Both fighters have something to prove—Bivol is fighting to regain his titles, while Beterbiev wants to show that his October victory was no fluke.
Bivol’s résumé includes a dominant victory over Saúl “Canelo†Ãlvarez, a fight in which he controlled the action from start to finish, leaving the Mexican superstar frustrated and outclassed. Meanwhile, Beterbiev’s highlight reel features a brutal stoppage of Callum Smith, whom he took out in the seventh round to strip him of his world titles.
This Saturday, we witness an epic war that will go down in light heavyweight history. Two champions, one ring—who walks away undisputed?