Published by: Valdemar Carnegie
Updated: 7:37 PM EST, February 23, 2025
Original photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
One of the most anticipated boxing cards took place today, February 22, 2025, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main event featured the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Let’s break down the seven main fights of the night and the outcomes.
Original Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Callum Smith Defeats Joshua Buatsi
Callum Smith has been working his way back into title contention since losing to Beterbiev last year. Smith and Buatsi set the tone for an exciting night of boxing. Both fighters exchanged heavy blows early, focusing on body shots as part of their game plan. In the final minute of the third round, Buatsi landed a powerful right uppercut to Smith’s body, hurting him. Despite the damage, both fighters showed incredible heart, trading punches until the final bell. Smith, however, outworked Buatsi in most rounds, earning a unanimous decision victory. With this win, Smith is back in the title picture. A trilogy fight with Beterbiev or a matchup with Bivol could be next. Would a fight against David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez make sense for Smith? Only time will tell.
Original photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Agit Kabayel Scores Knockout in Thriller Against Zhilei Zhang
Kabayel entered the fight with an undefeated record, but Zhang was seen as his toughest opponent yet. Zhang, coming off a knockout win over Deontay Wilder, started strong in the first round, landing big shots and showcasing his speed and power. However, Kabayel adjusted in the next three rounds, using his technical skills to target Zhang’s body and head. By the fifth round, Zhang appeared exhausted, but he stunned everyone by dropping Kabayel with a massive left hand. Kabayel survived the round and came back strong in the sixth, attacking Zhang’s body until he secured a knockout victory. This win proved Kabayel’s skills are no fluke, and he’s now looking for another big-name opponent.
Original Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Vergil Ortiz Defeats Israil Madrimov in Hard-Fought Battle
This was one of the most anticipated fights of the night. Both Madrimov, coming off a loss to Terence Crawford, and Ortiz, fresh off a controversial win over Serhii Bohachuk, showed tremendous courage. The fight was filled with heavy exchanges, but Ortiz’s superior skills shone through in the later rounds, earning him a unanimous decision victory. In his post-fight interview with iFL TV, Ortiz dismissed the idea of facing the winner of Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis, saying, “They’re at 147 pounds. That ship has sailed for me. We already said yes to the fight, but they didn’t want it.” Ortiz is looking for bigger challenges in his weight class.
Original Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Carlos Adames Ends in a Draw
Sheeraz, an undefeated middleweight contender, faced WBC Champion Carlos Adames in a highly competitive fight. Sheeraz used his height and reach to control the early rounds, landing sharp jabs. Adames, however, adjusted in the middle rounds, targeting Sheeraz’s body and slowing him down. The fight was a tactical chess match with moments of excitement that kept the crowd on their feet. When the scorecards were read, the fight was ruled a draw. Adames disagreed with the decision, saying, “I think I won at least eight rounds. The judges didn’t see the work I was doing.” A rematch seems inevitable after such a close and entertaining fight.
Original Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Shakur Stevenson Dominates Josh Padley
Josh Padley faced the toughest challenge of his career on just two days’ notice, stepping in to fight three-division champion Shakur Stevenson. Padley, who works as an electrician, showed incredible heart but was outclassed by Stevenson’s superior skills. Stevenson dominated every round, and by the ninth, Padley’s corner threw in the towel due to the damage from body shots. Despite the loss, Padley earned respect from the crowd for his bravery. In his post-fight interview with Seconds Out, Stevenson called out Gervonta “Tank” Davis, saying, “Tank is a great fighter, but I’m better than him, and he can’t beat me.” Fans have been eagerly waiting for this matchup, and Stevenson’s callout has only added to the hype.
Original Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Joseph Parker Stops Martin Bakole in Quick Fashion
Joseph Parker and Martin Bakole know each other well, but Bakole took this fight on just two days’ notice. He arrived in Riyadh a day before the fight and weighed over 300 pounds, raising questions about his preparation. Bakole started strong, landing counters and uppercuts, but Parker quickly turned the tide. A right hook to Bakole’s temple dropped him, and his corner threw in the towel. Former champion Shawn Porter disagreed with the stoppage, saying, “It seemed premature, but his coach must have seen something we didn’t.” In his post-fight interview with Fight Hub TV, Parker thanked Bakole for taking the fight on short notice and expressed interest in facing Daniel Dubois or Oleksandr Usyk for a title shot.
Original photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Main Event: Dmitry Bivol Avenges Loss to Artur Beterbiev
The rematch between Bivol and Beterbiev lived up to the hype. Their first fight ended in a controversial decision, with Beterbiev getting the nod. This time, Bivol started fast, using his speed and footwork to control the early rounds. Beterbiev turned the tide in rounds 3-6, cutting off the ring and landing powerful body shots and hooks. Just as Beterbiev seemed to take control, Bivol found a second wind, using his speed and counters to bruise Beterbiev’s eye. When the final bell rang, the crowd gave both fighters a standing ovation. The judges awarded Bivol the victory, making him the new Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion. In his post-fight interview, Bivol showed respect for Beterbiev, saying, “I told Artur after the fight that I respect him so much. When I was young, I looked up to him as the top prospect. Thank you for this fight.”
This card delivered unforgettable moments, setting the stage for even bigger matchups in the future