WE are now just two weeks away from one of the strongest boxing cards since the turn of the millennium, as Artur Beterbiev, 21-0 (20 KOs), and Dmitry Bivol, 23-1 (12 KOs), collide for a second time, on top of a bill that features a number of intriguing matchups.
Inclusive of the mammoth main event, there will be an astonishing four world title bouts on offer, including the coveted heavyweight world title, as well as three interim title contests. However, one travelling champion has not got off to the greatest start.
Carlos Adames, 24-1 (18 KOs), became the WBC middleweight world champion last year and made a first successful defence of the strap against Terrell Gausha back in June.
Despite being the titleholder, the Dominican will step through the ropes as the underdog when he appears on his first Riyadh Season card against unbeaten Briton, Hamzah Sheeraz, 21-0 (17 KOs), later this month.
Sheeraz underwent a meteoric rise into world title contention during 2024, extending his knockout streak to 15 straight stoppage wins by defeating Liam Williams, Ammo Williams and Tyler Denny in an impressive 12-month spell.
After being generously dubbed as the United Kingdom’s answer to the legendary Thomas Hearns, Sheeraz is now poised to jump up in levels once again and challenge for Adames’ world title, with the victor supposedly set to take on WBO and IBF champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, 16-0 (11 KOs), later in the calendar.
As both men gear up for their biggest fight to date, Sheeraz will be encouraged by news that Adames’ preparation for their meeting has been disrupted after the 30-year-old revealed that he was stranded at the airport in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), prior to his flight to Saudi Arabia.
“My manager told me that they said I could not enter Saudi Arabia before the date they decided, my team bought our tickets on their own and they let my team pass but I cannot pass. I’m stranded, waiting at the Las Vegas airport.”
In a second tweet, he said: “I tried to board the plane to Saudi Arabia, but I am getting banned from getting on because they will not allow me to enter Saudi Arabia.”
Adames-Sheeraz is still expected to go ahead, but this apparent inconvenience for the champion will surely be music to the ears of Sheeraz ahead of their clash on the February 22 bill.
