A second clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol may need to hold out until October 2025, as the rematch appears tied to the timing of Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. The first bout between the two light heavyweight champions was made possible with backing from Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh, who seeks to elevate boxing as part of Riyadh Season’s lineup of high-profile events.
Arum noted that, while Alalshikh has previously sponsored events outside Saudi Arabia, such as the August Madrimov-Crawford fight in Los Angeles, future matches will likely be restricted to Riyadh Season. "In order to tap into the large budget that they will have, they will have to do the fights in Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia," Arum explained, adding that this business approach aligns with Alalshikh's objective of boosting Saudi Arabia's international image through sport.
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The potential timing of October 2025 means that both Beterbiev and Bivol could each take interim fights before facing each other again. For Beterbiev, this may involve an IBF title defense against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.
Image Credit: Queensberry Promotions