Artur Beterbiev takes on Dmitry Bivol next weekend in one of the most anticipated fights of the year and the undercard is perfect for the occasion.
Beterbiev and Bivol meet to crown boxing’s undisputed light-heavyweight champion in Saudi Arabia after an initial delay due to injury.
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol takes place on October 12Mark Robinson/Matchroom
It is set to be an incredible fight, but there are some huge bouts taking place before the main event, with four titles on the line as well as an incredible rematch scheduled.
Headlining the preliminary action is an IBF cruiserweight title fight between unbeaten champion Jai Opetaia and Jack Massey.
Opetaia wanted to take on Chris Billiam-Smith in a unification fight but his offer was turned down and now Massey, who beat Isaac Chamberlain in June, is his challenger.
That bout is scheduled to follow a huge rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke.
The two British heavyweights left the ring bloody during their first meeting at The O2 in London earlier this year, with judges scoring it a split draw.
It meant Wardley retained his titles but now he’s putting them on the line again as both fighters look to prove themselves better than the other.
On top of those two fights, we will see the return of Chris Eubank Jr on the stacked card.
Eubank Jr has not fought in over a year after getting revenge over Liam Smith in September 2023.
But his hiatus has come to an end and he’s now ready for action, taking on Pole Kamil Szeremeta for the world IBO middleweight title.
Elsewhere on the card, Skye Nicolson defends her WBC featherweight title, the ever-entertaining Ben Whittaker takes on Liam Cameron and Mohammed Alakel faces Jesus Gonzalez.
Opetaia defends his title against Massey, looking to continue his unbeaten streakGetty
Beterbiev vs Bivol: Undercard
Subject to change…
MAIN EVENT: Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol – for IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO light heavyweight titles
Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey – for IBF cruiserweight title
Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke – for British heavyweight title
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Kamil Szeremeta – for IBO middleweight title
Skye Nicolson vs. Raven Chapman – for WBC featherweight title
Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron
Mohammaed Alakel vs. Jesus Gonzalez
Beterbiev vs Bivol: What has been said?
Wardley believes he should have won the first meeting between him and Clarke, and now wants to put things to bed in their rematch.
He said: “I don’t think it was a draw at all. I pressed the fight, I pressed the action.
“I want it finished off. I want it done. I want that chapter ticked off to move forward.”
Clarke also commented on the upcoming clash, saying: “I just can’t wait to smash him in the face again.
“This is the fight that I wanted. Draws don’t sit well with me. You could see I was devastated at the end of the fight.
“I look back at that and just see mistake after mistake that I made. Mistakes can’t be made.
“When the stakes are high it’s all about who can hold it together and cut those mistakes out.”
Wardley and Clarke drew their first meeting but are set to go at it againLawrence Lustig / BOXXER
Meanwhile, in the headline undercard fight, Opetaia is feeling very confident.
Speaking ahead of his fight, he said: “I am the best cruiserweight in the world.
“It’s easy to say that stuff. I’ve just got to keep proving it. I’ve got to prove it again on the 12th and prove it my next fight and keep collecting these belts.”
