Photos: Mikey Williams / TR Boxing
For the past week, I’ve been getting tons of texts and Messenger messages from people asking where and when the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will be broadcast.
DAZN will begin airing it at 2:00 PM this Saturday. For those who miss Le Coin du Métro or Costa, La Ripaille in Repentigny has taken up the torch for showing big fight nights.
At last, we’re here: the long-awaited rematch has arrived. Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will pick up where they left off on October 24. I’ve attended many rematch fights in my life, and I tend to see them as sequels to the first showdown. Often, the more technical boxer has an advantage, as they’re the one expected to make the right adjustments.
Every fight on this card could be a main event anywhere in the world. As a boxing fan, it’s like taking the Super Bowl, WrestleMania, the World Series, the Stanley Cup Final, and the FIFA World Cup, throwing them all into a hat, shaking it up, and pulling out an absolutely stacked boxing card.
This event is so impressive that it deserves a fight-by-fight breakdown with analysis and predictions.
Saturday, February 22, 2025, will be the best day of our lives.
Beterbiev vs. Bivol II
Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) vs. Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs): WBA, IBF, WBC, WBO, Ring Magazine—name them all (175 lb)
I don’t know what to think.
Artur Beterbiev was at 80% due to a knee injury.
Dmitry Bivol also claims he was injured.
Is this a second fight… or the 13th round?
Beterbiev seems to be the more aggressive fighter and also the one who doesn’t mind taking a punch. That’s what worked for him in the first fight: staying active and constantly pressing forward. At its core, this fight is Beterbiev’s power, pressure, and relentlessness versus Bivol’s ring IQ, footwork, and speed.
To win, Bivol can’t go into neutral mode in the middle of the fight like he did last time. He’ll have to fight more, take calculated risks, and sometimes put himself in danger to land his shots. He has the jab, distance control, and footwork to beat Beterbiev.
He even landed 50% of his power punches in the first fight. He needs to throw even more.
Bivol will take the rematch by unanimous decision, and we’ll see them all again in September for the trilogy finale.
Parker vs. Bakole
WOW! Daniel Dubois is sick and will be replaced by Martin Bakole
Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) vs. Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs): (200+ lb)
The Congolese fighter is huge, hits insanely hard, and sooner or later, he’ll catch Parker and knock him out. Facing Martin Bakole on short notice like this… it’s a nightmare.
Stevenson vs. Padley
Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) vs. Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KOs): WBC (135 lb)
“Never bet against an electrician.” — Jonathan Jeria’s proverb
OK. so Schofield is also sick, and now Josh Padley is taking this fight on just a few days’ notice. He’s an electrician who boxes part-time. The Irishman is a decent fighter without much punching power, determined to pull off the upset. He’s already pulled off a shocker against Mark Chamberlain, but Shakur Stevenson is a defensive wizard.
120-108 for Shakur Stevenson—this is the most one-sided fight of the night.
Adames vs. Sheeraz
Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs): WBC (160 lb)
The British middleweight needs to stay focused this week. There’s talk about his future; the names Chris Eubank Jr. and Saul Alvarez keep coming up. Sheeraz is like a god with boxing gloves—England’s future runs through him.
Carlos Adames is on a six-fight win streak; he’s very good and hits hard. However, he shouldn’t trouble Sheeraz. Adames will need either a lucky punch or for Sheeraz to gas out to have any chance.
Hamzah Sheeraz is going to paint a masterpiece and win by stoppage in the sixth round.
Ortiz Jr vs. Madrimov
Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) vs. Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs): Interim WBC (154 lb)
The closest fight on Saturday’s card. Ortiz’s career has been slowed by injuries and health issues. Plus, Serhii Bohachuk dragged him into an all-out war—a fight that surely left its mark.
Madrimov nearly pulled off a huge upset against Terence Crawford. His footwork, distance control, angle variation, and even head movement—pure artistry.
Ortiz shouldn’t have taken this fight. This is where you see how Turki Alalshikh’s big money pushes fighters into risks that don’t make sense. You don’t come off a tough fight and health problems to face Israil Madrimov.
The Uzbek fighter by KO in the 9th round.
Zhang vs. Kabayel
Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) vs. Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs): Interim WBC (200+ lb)
Zhilei Zhang shows little sign of slowing down, despite being 41. He even stopped Deontay Wilder in five rounds. No one has seriously hurt him in his career—he reminds me of Benjamin Button, just not as handsome as Brad Pitt.
The German fighter has passed every test, beating Derek Chisora, Christian Lewandowski, Arslanbek Makhmudov, and even Frank Sanchez, who was highly rated. He moves like a middleweight, never makes mistakes… but he’s facing a beast who hits like few ever have.
I think Zhang hits too hard and has too strong a chin not to go the distance. He’ll take a split decision win. Controversy already.
Buatsi vs. Smith
Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 K.-O.) vs Callum Smith (30-2, 22 K.-O.): WBO intérimaire (175 lb)
Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) vs. Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs): Interim WBO (175 lb)
Buatsi is no stranger to big British fights. He’s beaten Craig Richards, Dan Azeez, and even Willy Hutchinson on his way to the biggest fight of his career against Callum Smith in Riyadh. He wants to prove he’s the best British fighter in his division and deserves a shot at the Bivol-Beterbiev winner.
Smith is a seasoned veteran who’s gotten back on track after being demolished by Artur Beterbiev. His only two losses have come against elite fighters. This is the perfect fight for him to reclaim his status against a hungry Buatsi.
Joshua Buatsi will shine on Saturday afternoon. He’ll set a pace and intensity Callum can’t keep up with. Plus, Buatsi is a true 175-pounder. And let’s not forget—he’s been training with Andre Ward, and as the saying goes: never bet against Andre Ward.
Buatsi by decision.
Saturday, I’m locking myself inside. Finally, a perk of being a hardened bachelor.
