RIYADH – February 18, 2024 – In anticipation of a historic night of boxing, unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and former champion Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 11 KOs) made their grand arrivals today at the Riyadh Season ahead of their highly anticipated rematch on Saturday, February 22 live worldwide on DAZN PPV (9:30 a.m. ET) from the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Also making their grand arrivals were co-headliners, champions, top contenders, and rising stars featured on the undercard. The co-main event features IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs), set to defend his title against former WBO champion Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), along with Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), who puts his WBC lightweight title up against Floyd Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs). Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) and Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs)were also in attendance and both willsquare off for the WBC middleweight title.
Additional bouts to look forward to include Vergil Ortiz Jr., (22-0, 21 KOs) clashing with Israil Madrimov (10-1, 7 KOs) for the WBC interim super welterweight title and Zhilei Zhang (27-2, 22 KOs) meeting Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) for the WBC interim heavyweight title. British stars Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) and Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) are set to battle it out for the interim WBO light heavyweight title.
The preliminary card will showcase local talent with Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0-1, 1 KO) taking on Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-20, 5 KOs) in a welterweight bout and super featherweight Mohammed Alakel (2-0, 0 KOs) meets Engel Gomez (8-42, 4 KOs) in six round bouts.
Here are some of the top comments fighters shared during their grand arrivals today:
Artur Beterbiev
What did you learn from the first fight with Bivol?
“We learned some different things, like what we need to improve and what we need to correct. We did some stuff about these things, so we’ll see.”
How can you be better in this rematch?
“There are many things and aspects in which I can improve, so we’ll see.”
Can you explain how at 40 years old you still seem to get better as you age?
“I think it’s because of experience. To be in good shape for a long time is helpful to your body.”
Dmitry Bivol
What do you need to do to get the win this time around?
“I just need to be better in all positions. I need to be faster, harder, smarter. Everything needs to be better.”
What did you learn from going 12 rounds with Beterbiev in March?
“I learned about myself. That I don’t like to lose, and I need to push myself harder. More punches and more endurance.”
Daniel Dubois
What’s your confidence level coming into this fight?
“I’m flying. I feel really confident, ready to go. The talking is done, it’s time to go to work.”
What kind of fight are you expecting from Joseph Parker?
“I’m expecting just war. I’m ready to fight. Whatever happens, I’m ready to go through him and put him to sleep. Just go for the next one. I’m hungry.”
Joseph Parker
What are the biggest differences in you since your loss to Joe Joyce?
“Listening to Andy (Lee), listening to George (Lockhart), and applying what I’ve been learning in camp, training, and in the ring. It’s pretty simple. Go out there; believe in yourself. I have confidence and I’m going to prove to everyone that you can always come back from a loss.”
What do you have to do to beat Daniel Dubois?
“I have to be me. I have to focus on myself. Go out there and execute the game plan Andy Lee has put in place, and become champion of the world.”
Shakur Stevenson
How eager are you to get back in the ring after your hand injury?
“I’m ready to show the world that I’m a superstar. I think I’m one of the best fighters in the sport of boxing. The world will know February 22.”
What can people expect from you on Saturday?
They can expect the best fighter to show out. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Carlos Adames
What was your reaction when you got the call to fight Sheeraz?
“Since before they even called me, I thought it was going to be my next victim. I feel like they think they can beat me, but they can’t.”
What do you have to do to win on Saturday?
“I only have to decapitate him.”
Hamzah Sheeraz
Why was this the right fight for you?
“After Emril Williams, I was the No. 1-ranked contender for the belt. So it only made sense.”
What do you need to do to win on Saturday?
“Just do what I do. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and just enjoy myself.”
Vergil Ortiz Jr.
What’s behind your motivation for this fight?
“It’s the first title defense against a very good opponent. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Do you feel settled now at the 154-pound weight class?
“I feel good. I feel really good at this weight class. I’m willing to stay here for a long time. if the opportunity comes up at 160, we’ll take it too. We’ll just see what the future holds.”
When you watched Madrimov’s fight against Crawford, did you see things in his game that you could exploit?
“Crawford and I are obviously different fighters, different approaches, which means different chinks in the armor. But we always find a way.”
Israil Madrimov
What did you learn from the experience against Terrance Crawford?
“After Crawford, I learned from the experience. Now, I want this fight and this belt for everybody.”
How important to you is it to get a world title back in this fight on Saturday?
“It’s important to get the title again for me, but at the same time I showed myself with the Crawford fight. Many fans know about me after that, so that’s also important to me.”
Zhilei Zhang
How big was the win over Wilder to you?
“It means a lot. After Joseph Parker lost, it means that I’m coming back. Big Bang is here.”
What do you have to do to beat Kabayel?
“Whatever he brings to the table, I have an answer for him.”
At 41 years old, do you still feel like you have a lot left in the tank?
“I don’t know how far I can go, but as of now I’m feeling great, I’m feeling very young.”
Agit Kabayel
Do you like being the underdog?
“Yes, I like it. You’ll see on Saturday, the underdog will shock the world again.”
Does fighting for an interim title mean anything to you?
“It’s a small world title. But after the small world title, maybe comes the big world title.”
Joshua Buatsi
What do you think this fight will look like?
“One that I’ll win. However it looks, I’ll come out on top.”
What are you expecting of this fight stylistically?
“It’s a style that should gel. Whatever style I have to provide to win, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Callum Smith
How are you feeling going into this fight?
“I’m feeling good. It’s a good opportunity to put myself closer to where I want to be, and that’s a two-weight world champion.”
What did you learn from your loss to Beterbiev?
“I think you just learn from all your fights. Losing kind of magnifies it on where you need to improve. I assessed it, looked at reasons why I came up short, and feel I’ve improved in certain areas, and I’m a better fighter because of it.”
It’s been a respectful buildup; what will the fight look like on Saturday?
“I think it will be a good fight. I think stylistically we should gel pretty well. It’s not personal. I’ve got a job to do, and he’s got something I want. He’s got an interim world title that puts me closer to where I want to be. So I’ll go in there and do the job, and I believe I’ll come out on top.”
Mohammed Alakel
What can we expect on Saturday night?
“I worked so hard for this and a very skilled performance, hopefully.”
Ziyad Almaayouf
What are you looking forward to most on Saturday?
“When I am in Saudi Arabia, I feel like a superhero. I can’t wait to put my cape on and rise to the occasion and rise up to the pressure again and again and again Saturday night.”
What did you learn from the draw in your last outing?
“Not what I like to happen, but it was exactly what I needed to happen. Our biggest problem is when we try to find solutions a month later for something that happened today. I learned to trust the process; I needed that draw; I needed what I’ve picked up from it.”
