Frank Warren has told talkSPORT that he’s never seen a boxing card like the one that will be taking place on February 22 in Riyadh.
On Monday night, HE Turki Alalshikh (chairman of Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority) announced their first show of 2025, which will be headlined by the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch.
As well as that highly anticipated light-heavyweight sequel, there are three additional world title fights on the card, plus three quality bouts with ‘interim’ belts at stake, all of which have led to many fans calling this the ‘greatest boxing card ever’ on social media.
Daniel Dubois will make the second defence of his IBF heavyweight world title against Joseph Parker after KOing Anthony Joshua.
Rising British star Hamzah Sheeraz will finally get his long-awaited shot at middleweight gold when he challenges WBC king Carlos Adames.
Meanwhile Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight title against Floyd Schofield.
Also on the bill is a British dust-up between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith for the WBO ‘interim’ light-heavyweight belt.
Elsewhere, Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov is set for the WBC ‘interim’ super-welterweight strap and Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel will take place for the WBC ‘interim’ heavyweight belt.
Warren, who will be lead promoter for the event, told talkSPORT Breakfast on Tuesday “Well, I said when Riyadh Season was [first] announced, when HE got involved, that this is going to be a game-changer.
“But even I didn’t realise what a game-changer it was going to be.
“I mean, this card on February 22 is something special.
“When you look at it, every fight on there is a magnificent fight. I mean, I’ve never seen a card like it. It is so spectacular.”
Addressing the Beterbiev vs Bivol rematch, Warren continued: “Well it’s a great fight. The two best light-heavyweights in the world.
“Last time round it was an excellent fight, they displayed all their skills. It’s a rematch, that’s going to be a great fight.
“I love the Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker fight. Daniel’s come into his own now, he’s shown what he’s all about. He’s suddenly hit maturity, not just physically but mentally.
“And he’s in with a live opponent, someone who comes to fight and is on a bit of a roll, he’s resurrected his career. So I think that’s going to be great.
“And then you’ve got, from a British point of view, you’ve got Joshua Buatsi in there with Callum Smith. That’s a cracking little fight.
“You go down the card, you look at Hamzah Sheeraz, he’s challenging Carlos Adames for the world title. Cracking fight, a really spectacular fight.
“Then you look at the American involvement. Shakur Stevenson’s on there against Floyd Schofield. Vergil Ortiz against Israil Madrimov, these are really good fights.
“And you add in Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel, what a cracking heavyweight fight that is. This is spectacular.”