Top Rank President Todd duBoef has acknowledged that the involvement of Saudi Arabia was crucial for arranging the light heavyweight unification bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol, allowing it to occur while both fighters are near their prime. The fight is set for June 1st in Saudi Arabia, a location chosen to help realize such high-caliber matchups, thanks to the support from Turki Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During a press event in London, duBoef expressed his enthusiasm for the matchup, noting the significance of this fight in the light heavyweight division. Beterbiev, holding records with the WBC, WBO, and IBF, and Bivol, the WBA champion, both have impressive records.
DuBoef also highlighted the long-standing desire among fans to see such dream fights come to fruition, which has often been hindered by logistical challenges. With Saudi Arabia's backing, these types of events are more feasible, providing a stage for historic fights like the upcoming Beterbiev vs. Bivol and the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk scheduled for May 18th.
The influence of Saudi Arabian support is seen as a key factor in aligning the expectations and logistics necessary to bring such prominent bouts to life. DuBoef remained non-committal about whether this fight could have happened without Saudi intervention but emphasized that their support has certainly expedited the process, making a timely and appealing event possible for fight fans worldwide.
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