Beterbiev-Bivol II to take place in smaller arena to promote better atmosphere

It seems those at the General Entertainment Authority, headed by Turki Alalshikh, have listened to the dissenting voices that speak of the perceived lack of atmosphere at the Riyadh Season shows in Saudi Arabia and switched this weekend’s ‘Last Crescendo’ event – headlined by the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol – to a smaller arena.

The first bout, which ended in a tight majority decision win for Beterbiev in October, alongside the two titanic heavyweight encounters between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, took place at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, a vast space with room for 25,000 fans. That arena was also the setting for the December 2023 card which featured Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in separate fights, the show topped by Joshua-Francis Ngannou four months later, and the 5 v 5 show, which pitted boxers from Queensberry and Matchroom together, in June. Though the action on display has been largely exciting, many felt that the number of empty seats on display during the live broadcasts did not paint the sport in a particularly inviting light to the outside world.

Thus, the decision has been made to move Beterbiev-Bivol II and its vast undercard to the nearby Venue Riyadh Season, which holds 6,000 fans. The venue has been used for a boxing event once before, in November last year, when Gilberto Ramirez outpointed Chris Billam-Smith in a cruiserweight showdown. 

It is understood that the organizers are expecting a sell-out crowd.