“The Final Crescendo” has been hyped as one of many largest boxing playing cards in historical past and whereas it’s taken a number of hits, a large rematch remains to be set to cap off Saturday’s occasion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol battled to a digital standstill of their first struggle this previous October, although two of the judges noticed match to attain it for Beterbiev, a verdict that wasn’t with out controversy. So there was just one choice: run it again!
Sadly for struggle followers, a stacked lineup has crumbled over the previous few days as WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson misplaced opponent Floyd Schofield (changed by Josh Padley) and Joseph Parker now faces Martin Bakole as an alternative of Daniel Dubois after Dubois withdrew because of sickness.
We press on—and with apologies to Padley—we’re specializing in two of probably the most compelling fights atop the cardboard, Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 and Parker vs. Bakole. MMA Combating’s Alexander Ok. Lee and Jed Meshew give their picks for who leaves Saudi Arabia with a press release victory to kick off their 2025 campaigns.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2
Meshew: I gotta be sincere: that is the struggle I’m most trying ahead to this weekend, MMA included. The primary struggle was so shut and the motion was so tightly wound, I’ll be shocked if this one isn’t additionally a wonderful matchup.
The primary struggle was a basic boxing encounter between a easy technician and a pressure of nature. Dmitry Bivol’s footwork and jab let him get out to an early lead as he performed matador in opposition to Artur Beterbiev, however then Beterbiev began bringing his physicality to bear on Bivol, plowing by way of the jab to land his energy photographs. These began to take a toll on Bivol, who responded in sort by committing to his personal energy photographs to get Beterbiev to again off. Forwards and backwards the changes went for 12 rounds, and in the long run I scored the bout a draw at 114-114.
I doubt we find yourself with a draw this time, round so I assume I’ll decide Beterbiev to edge out one other shut one. Bivol might be the “superior boxer,” however Beterbiev brings too many bodily benefits to this matchup. Each time he hit Bivol within the first struggle, even when he blocked, it might bodily transfer him. Bivol isn’t working with the identical form of pressure and it makes his street to success far more tough.
Lee: In what proved to be a pleasant conflict of kinds the primary time round, give me the facility puncher to win once more within the rematch.
Bivol used his footwork and measurement to constantly stroll Beterbiev down within the first struggle and there’s no cause to assume he can’t do the identical for one more 12 rounds. There’s additionally no cause to assume Beterbiev’s heavier punches gained’t be the distinction once more. When Beterbiev is ready to string collectively combos in rhythm along with his extra telegraphed haymakers, he’s so harmful, and even the aggressive Bivol needed to again off at occasions of their earlier encounter. Changes will likely be key for Bivol to place the exclamation factors on shut rounds that went to Beterbiev final time.
I’ll go a step additional than Jed and never solely decide Beterbiev to win, I’m selecting my fellow Canadian to attain a knockout. He’ll drop a number of rounds early on as he patiently works to determine Bivol’s timing earlier than dropping Beterbiev in one of many center frames after which ending earlier than the tenth.
Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole
Lee: It’s positively unlucky we misplaced Daniel Dubois for this one, although Turki Alalshikh’s UFC-esque skill to discover a late alternative is spectacular, particularly one as enjoyable as Martin Bakole.
No, Bakole hasn’t precisely slayed a assassin’s row of opponents to earn this chance, however the very best skill is availability and seeing him bounce on this chance with nothing to lose is undeniably intriguing. Is he a hidden gem prepared to drag off a surprising upset or will it simply be enterprise as standard for Joseph Parker as he marches in direction of a desired title struggle with Oleksandr Usyk?
Sadly for you chaos seekers, this one ought to play out as anticipated, with the extra seasoned Parker controlling a lot of the motion as Bakole adventurously hunts for a knockout. Now, it’s not as if Parker can simply cruise as a result of it wasn’t all that way back that Zhilei Zhang was placing him on his bottom, however there are ranges to this and I’m snug putting Zhang effectively above Bakole.
I additionally doubt Parker will wish to take too many probabilities on this one, so he’ll out-tech Bakole for 12 rounds and win a choice that can have its justifiable share of furry moments for the New Zealand veteran.
Meshew: Sooooooo, what to make of this one?
Parker has been steadily rising up the ranks with high-profile wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhang, and hoped to earn a shot at Usyk by beating Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title. Now he will get to maintain his WBO interim belt, however a attainable struggle with Usyk could be very a lot in query. Not the least of which as a result of Bakole isn’t any joke.
Bakole has been desirous to get an enormous alternative for some time now and whereas circumstances are lower than perfect, the Congolese fighter brings the form of energy to a struggle that may change issues rapidly.
If Bakole wasn’t stepping in below such wild circumstances, I would give him an opportunity on this one. Parker is quicker and far more technical, however energy is the nice equalizer. That being stated, I’m undecided how prepared Bakole is to struggle a tough 10 rounds and I believe Parker may must keep away from any slip-ups early, which he’s greater than able to doing.
Parker by late spherical stoppage.
