Bivol and Beterbiev to meet in the ring again – this time in Russia?

The decisive fight of the trilogy between Russian boxers Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev may take place in Moscow. The possibility of holding the fight in the fall of 2025 at the main arena of the Luzhniki stadium is being discussed.

However, this information raises doubts for at least two reasons. Firstly, October-November is not the best time for a large-scale open-air boxing show in the Moscow climate. Secondly, the rights to organize the fight belong to an influential promoter - Turki Al ash-Sheikh, the head of the Saudi Arabian Entertainment Authority (GEA). It is Saudi Arabia that has hosted the most high-profile boxing events in recent years.

Nevertheless, Russian promoters have managed to reach a preliminary agreement with Al ash-Sheikh. The key argument was the desire of the boxers themselves to hold the final fight of the trilogy in Russia.

Let's recall the history of their confrontation: in the first fight on October 12, 2024, Beterbiev won by split decision. In the rematch on February 22, 2025, Bivol was stronger. Interestingly, the judges' scorecards in the second fight completely repeated the score of the first fight, only with a different winner. As a result, both boxers became absolute light heavyweight champions once.

However, the absolute champion title will not be played for in the third fight. Bivol, focusing on the trilogy with Beterbiev, refused the mandatory defense according to the WBC version and was stripped of this belt several months ago.

Despite the absence of all championship belts, the third fight Bivol - Beterbiev will be a grand event for Russian boxing. And if the organizers manage to implement the ambitious plan and hold the final chord of the trilogy in Moscow, the scale of the event will be truly historic.

You can buy tickets for the Bivol – Beterbiev fight in Luzhniki on our website.