It was a huge night of boxing at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where fans filled the seats in anticipation of a highly charged light heavyweight rematch between two of the sport's most formidable punchers. As the evening unfolded, an undercard loaded with heavyweight showdowns, world title defenses, and promising young prospects set the stage for a main event that everyone had been waiting to see. From blistering knockouts to razor-thin decisions, the action delivered from start to finish.
In the rematch for the undisputed light heavyweight championship, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol went the full twelve rounds once again. Bivol boxed patiently early on, using quick combinations and movement, while Beterbiev forced the pace in the mid-to-late stages, landing punishing blows and stalking relentlessly. Both fighters had their moments, with Beterbiev rallying late and Bivol showing flashes of sharp counterpunching. At the final bell, the judges handed down a majority decision to Bivol, setting the stage for a potential trilogy.
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In a co-feature heavyweight clash, Joseph Parker faced off against a visibly heavier Martin Bakole. Parker’s hand speed and conditioning proved decisive, as he controlled the opening round and then floored Bakole in the second with a thudding right to the temple. Although Bakole beat the count, his corner quickly made the call to stop the fight, giving Parker a quick knockout victory.
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WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson went up against late replacement Josh Padley. Stevenson fought cautiously at first, tying up whenever his opponent stepped forward. Padley tried to close the gap, but lacked the power to trouble Stevenson. The champion gradually increased his offense, scoring multiple knockdowns in the ninth round with well-placed body shots. Padley’s corner threw in the towel, giving Stevenson a technical knockout in an otherwise methodical performance.
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A surprising twist came in the WBC middleweight title match between Carlos Adames and Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz. Adames controlled much of the action, pressuring and landing the cleaner punches, while Sheeraz struggled to find his rhythm. Despite looking out of his depth for long stretches, Sheeraz was able to do just enough in the eyes of two of the judges to salvage a controversial draw. The wide disparity in the scorecards prompted debate, leaving the door open for possible future negotiations - though Adames may think twice before agreeing to a rematch abroad.
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In a WBC interim junior middleweight championship bout, Vergil Ortiz Jr. endured a tough test against the crafty Israil Madrimov. Madrimov piled up early rounds with sharp combinations and deft movement, causing significant swelling to Ortiz Jr.’s face. As the fight wore on, Ortiz Jr. picked up his pressure, finally pinning Madrimov against the ropes in several late-round exchanges. After a hard-fought twelve rounds, Ortiz Jr. was awarded a unanimous decision. Though some observers felt Madrimov deserved better, Ortiz Jr.’s aggression apparently left a stronger impression on the judges.
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Another heavyweight tilt featured Agit Kabayel taking on the seasoned Zhilei Zhang for a version of the WBC interim title. Kabayel set a fast pace from the outset, targeting Zhang’s midsection to sap the bigger fighter’s energy. Though Zhang scored a dramatic knockdown with a left hook in the fifth, his gas tank ran empty soon after. Kabayel rallied in the sixth, dropping Zhang with a vicious body shot and leaving the referee no choice but to count him out for the stoppage.
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Kicking off the main portion of the card, Callum Smith squared off against the unbeaten Joshua Buatsi in a light heavyweight contest. Smith’s experience and punishing body attack gradually broke down his opponent’s defenses. Though Buatsi hung tough, he was visibly hurt by a right hand late in the fight and appeared unsteady in the final rounds. Smith pulled away on the scorecards, securing a deserved points victory in front of an appreciative crowd.
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In super featherweight action, local prospect Mohammed Alakel fought six brisk rounds against veteran Engel Gomez, collecting a comfortable points win to remain undefeated. Meanwhile, rising light welterweight Ziyad Almaayouf put on a polished performance against Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira. Almaayouf controlled the tempo from start to finish, earning every round on the referee’s scorecard and further highlighting his potential as one to watch in the coming year.
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Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing