The Saudi capital Riyadh hosted the final pre-fight press conference for The Last Crescendo on Thursday evening, where top boxing stars gathered at Boulevard City to discuss their highly

anticipated matchups set for Saturday, featuring an explosive fight card headlined by the rematch between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, alongside other thrilling bouts such as Shakur Stevenson’s lightweight title fight under the WBC.
The spotlight was on the much-anticipated showdown between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, with Bivol reaffirming his determination to avenge his previous loss to Beterbiev and claim the light heavyweight titles. Bivol stated, “A huge thank you to HE Turki Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this opportunity. I also want to thank Beterbiev for granting me this rematch. I am deeply grateful and I look forward to stepping into the ring and winning this time.”
When asked about his motivation for this fight, Bivol emphasized that revenge was his driving force, saying, “As athletes, we always want to win. I wasn’t the victor last time, and now I feel an overwhelming urge to set things right. I have identified my mistakes and know what needs to change. As a competitor, I crave this victory.”
On the other hand, Beterbiev appeared calm and confident, making it clear that his primary objective was to defend his titles. He stated, “I simply want to defend my belts.” When asked whether he was satisfied with their first fight, he replied, “Yes, because I won.” He added that his team had reviewed the previous bout and made technical adjustments in preparation for the rematch. Regarding his intent to avoid leaving the decision in the hands of the judges, Beterbiev responded briefly, “We’ll see.”
Prominent boxing promoter Eddie Hearn spoke about the significance of the fight, saying, “I feel incredibly lucky. I don’t know about you, but I feel like a fan who is about to witness one of the greatest fight nights on Saturday. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see what might be the greatest fight I’ve ever watched. With this stacked card, boxing continues to grow and expand globally.”
Hearn also praised the efforts of HE Turki Alalshikh in elevating boxing on the world stage, highlighting his passion for the sport and his dedication to organizing spectacular events that honor fighters and provide them with fair opportunities.
Beyond the main event, Hearn discussed Shakur Stevenson’s WBC lightweight title fight, which saw unexpected changes after Floyd Schofield was forced to withdraw following a ruling by the British Boxing Board of Control. Hearn commented, “This was a disaster for the event and for any promoter because we had to find a replacement on very short notice for Shakur Stevenson, who had spent 12 weeks preparing for this fight.”
He continued, “It was clear that HE wanted to ensure Shakur remained on the card while also giving an incredible opportunity to the replacement fighter, Josh Badley, who was ready to take on the challenge. He got the call, flew in the next day, and now he has the chance of a lifetime. This fight could change his entire career, both athletically and financially.”
Amid the spotlight on Bivol vs. Beterbiev, injury ruled Daniel Dubois out of his highly anticipated clash with Joseph Parker. As a result, Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole (20 wins, 15 by knockout, 1 loss) stepped in as a replacement, creating an intriguing showdown that could produce an unexpected outcome on Saturday. Interestingly, Bakole had previously expressed his desire last month to face the winner of the Dubois-Parker fight—now, he gets his shot earlier than expected.
Parker remained composed and focused, expressing his readiness to fight regardless of who his opponent might be. He said, “I wish Daniel a speedy recovery and hope he’s okay, but I’m extremely excited for this fight and ready to put on a great performance for the fans.”
Spencer Brown, Parker’s management representative, confirmed Parker’s full readiness, stating that he is prepared to take on any challenger.
Reaffirming his confidence, Parker added, “I arrived in Riyadh in the best shape of my career and completed all my preparations with my team in Ireland. I am fully ready for Saturday.”
As the highly anticipated fight night approaches, excitement continues to build among fans and spectators, with Saturday expected to be one of the most electrifying nights in boxing history—not only because of the revenge battle between Bivol and Beterbiev, but also due to the thrilling matchups featuring global boxing stars eager to leave their mark on the sport.
Amid this intense atmosphere, Riyadh remains the ultimate destination for boxing enthusiasts worldwide, as Saudi Arabia continues to cement its status as a premier host for the biggest and most prestigious global sporting events.
Meanwhile, boxing fans eagerly await the official weigh-in ceremony on Friday evening at Boulevard City as part of Boxing Week activities. The weigh-in serves as a crucial pre-fight ritual ensuring fair competition between the fighters.