The Riyadh Season card is now formally introduced for February twenty second, with a few surprises. Within the headliner, undisputed mild heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will defend in opposition to Dmitry Bivol in a rematch, which most followers felt deserved to be on the high of the invoice.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has shocked followers by scheduling WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. to face former WBA champ Israil Madrimov.
We’d heard that Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) could possibly be dealing with Xander Zayas subsequent, however it is a a lot selection. Madrimov is a giant puncher with excellent technical abilities, and so they got here near defeating Terence Crawford final summer season on August third.
February twenty second Riyadh Season card
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2: Essential occasion
Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker
Shakur Stevenson vs Floyd Schofield
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz vs Israil Madrimov
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith
Curiously, Madrimov had been talked about combating former WBC interim 154-lb champion Serhii Bohahuk on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 on December twenty first.
Madrimov continues to be scheduled to battle Bohachuk on December twenty first, so he’ll take an old-school method by combating twice inside two months. Turki’s welcome boost is utilizing Madrimov as Vergil Ortiz Jr’s opponent fairly than Xander Zayas, who mentioned he’d been provided the battle.
Based on Mike Coppinger, for Madrimov to battle Vergil on February twenty second, he should get via his match in opposition to Bohachuk on December twenty first. He must win and are available via with out struggling any accidents, which would require numerous luck.
Putting IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker because the chief help is very questionable as a result of U.S. followers have little curiosity in seeing this battle. Parker is seen as a past-his-prime man with a boring type, and he’s not common within the States.
Followers are extra focused on WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson’s protection in opposition to Floyd Schofield. That match-up will create extra curiosity throughout the build-up than the charisma-lacking Dubois-Parker battle. Shakur-Schofield ought to be the chief help bout on this card as a result of the eye this battle will appeal to will drown out any curiosity within the Dubois-Parker match.
The #3 spot on the cardboard ought to be Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov. That’s a significantly better battle than the Dubois vs. Parker match-up. U.S followers would like this one over the heavyweight matchup.
The opposite fascinating addition to this card is Callum Smith difficult Joshua Buatsi for his WBO interim mild heavyweight title. Smith fought final Saturday night time and is making a quick turnaround.
One of many biggest playing cards ever on February 22 in Riyadh 🥊🔥#BigTime#RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/4jQEowMXvD
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) December 2, 2024
