‘THE GREATEST CARD IN THE HISTORY OF BOXING’ SET FOR SAUDI ON FEB. 22
Turki Alalshikh has done it again, and this time, he’s done it bigger and better than ever.
On Monday night, the Feb. 22 card in Riyadh was finally announced, with the highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship topping a bill that has a world title on the line in EVERY fight—quite something.
We’ll be taking a look at each fight as we look ahead to one of, if not THE, greatest card in the history of boxing.
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol - Undisputed Light-Heavyweight Championship
Well, what more can be said about this fight? A rematch between two of the best fighters on the planet at the moment, it was hard to split them in their first fight back in October, and don’t be surprised to see something similar here.
That win was the first points victory for Artur Beterbiev in his 21-fight professional career so far, so he’ll be looking to go one better this time and get the stoppage. But whatever you do, do not write Dmitry Bivol off.
He showed enough to suggest that he’s capable of turning the tables, and after suffering the first loss of his career in that fight, he’ll feel like he’s got a point to prove.
Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker - IBF World Heavyweight Title
A fight that was touted ever since it was confirmed that Anthony Joshua would not be exercising his rematch clause straight away, Daniel Dubois makes the second defense of his IBF world title against the in-form New Zealander and former world champion Joseph Parker.
Back-to-back stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and then most recently Anthony Joshua, Dubois has proved himself to be one of the most destructive and exciting fighters on the planet.
Across the ring from him on Feb. 22 will be Joseph Parker, who is in a similarly rich vein of form.
After getting emphatically stopped by Joe Joyce back in 2022, Parker is now on a five-fight win streak, with his most recent successes coming against the dynamite-fisted Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
Both fighters have shown over the years that you just cannot afford to write them off, so don’t be surprised if this turns out to be the fight of the night between two game, hungry, and supremely talented heavyweights.
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz - WBC World Middleweight Title
Highly regarded as one of the best fighters on the planet who doesn’t currently hold a world title, Hamzah Sheeraz is currently on an incredible 15-fight stoppage streak that dates all the way back to 2018.
Here, though, he comes up against the supremely talented WBC World Middleweight champion Carlos Adames, fresh off the back of a career-best win over Terrell Gausha to claim the full WBC title.
After waiting patiently and climbing his way up the rankings, this is Sheeraz’s time to shine against the elite level of this crazy sport, and with momentum more than on his side, it’s hard to see past anything other than another dominant performance from the Brit here.
If Sheeraz is victorious, that sets up potential mega-fights with the likes of Janibek Alimkhanuly, Chris Eubank, and many more.
Do not blink.
Shakur Stevenson vs Floyd Schofield Jr - WBC World Lightweight Title
Two of the best technical boxers in the lighter-weight divisions put their undefeated records on the line on Feb. 22 as the reigning WBC World Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson faces off with fellow American Floyd Schofield Jr.
Originally set to face William Zepeda on the card, the Mexican has been forced to take a spell on the sidelines due to an injury he picked up against Tevin Farmer. With Shak on the lookout for a new opponent, up stepped 22-year-old Floyd Schofield Jr.
Former sparring partners, these two know each other extremely well. They’re both very technical boxers, and despite Shak being southpaw and Schofield being orthodox, there are plenty of similarities between the pair.
It would be no surprise to see a chess match between the two, but this could also be the perfect opportunity for Stevenson to silence the doubters, start to sit down on his shots more, and showcase the devastating power that he claims to have against his opponent, who is five years his junior.
Hovering over Schofield is one huge question mark. He’s shown all the signs in his career so far that he has what it takes to be a star in the sport, but we haven’t properly seen him tested yet.
Does he have the ability to dethrone Shak? Does he have the minerals to dethrone Shak? On Feb. 22, we’ll find out.
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov - WBC ‘Interim’ World Super-Welterweight Title
Another fight that came out of the blue, Ortiz was expected to take on Jaron Ennis before talks broke down late in negotiations.
With the boxing world grieving from a potential clash of the titans between Ortiz and Ennis, in stepped Mr. Reliable, AKA Israil Madrimov, who will fight for the second time in nine weeks following his bout with Serhii Bohachuk on Dec. 21 on the Usyk vs Fury 2 undercard.
It’s crazy to think that in the space of seven months, former WBC world champ Madrimov could potentially have faced Terence Crawford, Serhii Bohachuk, and then Vergil Ortiz Jr. Absolutely mental.
First off, though, Madrimov has to get through Bohachuk, and he has to get through that fight unscathed. Easier said than done.
Turki Alalshikh has, however, confirmed that there is a contingency plan if, for some reason, Madrimov can’t end up fighting Ortiz on Feb. 22.
One thing is for certain, though: if the fight does go ahead at the end of Feb., it’s going to be an all-out war.
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith - WBO ‘Interim’ World Light-Heavyweight Title
A fight that has been in demand for a number of years now, despite the fact they were under the same promoter, it just never got made.
Now, though, on February 22nd, 2025, we FINALLY get to find out who the best light-heavyweight in Great Britain is as Olympic bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi takes on former two-weight world champion Callum Smith.
As 50/50 fights go, this one really is exactly that. Buatsi is undefeated, but Smith’s only two career defeats have come at the hands of Canelo Alvarez and Artur Beterbiev, and away from those two fights, he’s looked pretty unbeatable.
Away from either of their teams, you won’t find anyone who can give you a confident prediction for how this fight is going to pan out, and that is exactly what makes it so appealing to not just boxing fans from Britain but boxing fans from around the world.
With the winner likely to get a shot at potentially the undisputed championship in their next fight, the reward for victory here is quite simply one thing… legacy.
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel - WBC ‘Interim’ World Heavyweight Title
Two fighters who were both looking likely to fight Martin Bakole in a final eliminator for Daniel Dubois’s IBF world title; it was confirmed on Monday night that they will instead face each other for WBC honours.
After back-to-back stoppage victories over Joe Joyce, Zhang was edged out by Joseph Parker before breezing past Deontay Wilder inside five rounds.
Kabayel, meanwhile, has been one of the surprise packages of 2024.
An underdog against Arslanbek Makhmudov, he ripped into the rib cage of the giant Russian to claim a fourth-round stoppage before taking another 0 against Frank Sanchez in his last fight, where he systematically broke down the Cuban to pick up the seventh-round stoppage.
In a fight that could quite easily be the main event of a decent card, it’s a testament to the depth of this card that this is the first fight on.
You’d probably have Zhang down as a slight favourite due to his record against elite-level opposition, but as we have seen in his past two fights, you’d be an absolute fool to back against Agit Kabayel.