Boxing’s ‘Fight Card of the Century’ takes place this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia live on DAZN pay-per-view, with the four-belt world light heavyweight title unification rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dimitry Bivol topping the bill.
The seven-fight promotion also features an undercard full of compelling contests that makes for an unusually competitive afternoon and evening’s entertainment for pugilism punters.
‘Fight Card of the Century’ predictions
Beterbiev to beat Bivol on points @ 17/20
Zhilei Zhang to beat Agit Kabayel @ 13/10
Bet on the latest boxing odds
Bivol’s lack of KO threat to prove decisive again in rematch
Ok, we may have tipped Dimitry Bivol to beat Artur Beterbiev on points in their long-awaited first clash, but we were at least right to point out Bivol’s lack of KO threat as the fight’s one certainty,
The rationale for a Bivol victory had been his superior movement being against an opponent on the way back from a serious knee injury, yet Beterbiev was able to get to him enough to shade a close contest last October and could well be more confident on the knee this time around.
A repeat of that points win for the Canadian could well be on the cards when the pair dance again. Beterbiev’s irrefutable power will prove a constant undermining doubt in his opponents’ game plan, but Bivol’s chin, courage and dexterity under fire can get him to the scorecards.
Tip: Beterbiev to beat Bivol on points @ 17/20
Back uncanny underdog ‘Big Bang’ to regain the winning thread
Unbeaten German fighter Agit Kabayel is the bookies 3/5 favourite against Zhilei ‘Big Bang Zhang’ and it’s easy to see why. Kabayel is a decade younger and comes into the fight off the back of four consecutive stoppage wins.
However, Zhang hasn’t done a great deal wrong in either of his career defeats, both of which came on points. Most recently he had Joseph Parker down twice before ultimately slipping to a tight majority decision loss.
The Chinese fighter has faced off with Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce (twice), Parker and Deontay Wilder (who he stopped in five rounds) in his last six fights, whereas Kabayel is completely untried against opponents of that pedigree.
Underestimating Zhang’s excellent timing dealt a near fatal blow to Joyce’s career and blew what was left of Wilder’s away. At odds of 7/5 he looks underestimated as a powerful puncher with a superior rap sheet.
