One of the biggest fights in boxing will finally take place this weekend when unified light-heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA title holder Dmitry Bivol battle for undisputed in Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the big night, here is everything you need to know about the "Four-Crown Showdown" event.
What is it?
"Four-Crown Showdown" is a major boxing event that will be headlined by the light-heavyweight championship bout between WBC, WBO and IBF belt holder Beterbiev and WBA champion Bivol. With all four belts on the line, the winner will emerge as the undisputed champion of the 175-pound division.
Before their fight, boxing fans will be treated to an impressive undercard, including two world title fights and a highly-anticipated heavyweight rematch.
When is it?
The event takes place this Saturday, October 12. It was originally scheduled for June 1 but was postponed to the new date after Beterbiev suffered a knee injury during training camp and required surgery.
Where is it?
The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh will once again play host to a massive world title fight. The arena has become the de facto venue for major boxing events in the Saudi Arabian capital, including May's undisputed heavyweight bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury and the rematch in December.
Who are the headline fighters?
In an increasingly competitive light-heavyweight division, Beterbiev and Bivol remain the standard bearers.
Beterbiev has earned a reputation as one of the finest knockout specialists of his generation, winning all 20 of his professional bouts by stoppage. The Canada-based Russian first became world champion when he won the vacant IBF belt in 2017 by knocking out Enrico Koelling in the final round in California.
Three fights later, he added Oleksandr Gvozdyk's WBC title to his collection with a 10th-round knockout in Philadelphia. Two title defences of his belts followed before Beterbiev engaged in another unification bout with then-WBO champion Joe Smith Jr, whom he cleaned out in two rounds in New York in 2022.
Beterbiev retained his three titles with successive knockout wins over British fighters, stopping Anthony Yarde in January 2023 and former super-middleweight champion Callum Smith 12 months later.
Bivol is also unbeaten heading into Saturday's bout, winning 13 of 23 inside the distance. He began his world title journey by claiming the WBA's interim belt in 2016 and was later elevated to full champion the following year.
Bivol fought Trent Broadhurst in November 2017 in his first bout as world champion and has made 11 successful title defences, many of them against top-tier challengers, including a superb points win over GIlberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi.
But it was his May 2022 fight against pound-for-pound superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez that thrust the California-based Russian into the spotlight. Alvarez was regarded as the pre-fight favourite, despite an ambitious climb up to light-heavyweight, but Bivol delivered a flawless performance in Las Vegas to inflict a second career defeat on the Mexican.
Where Beterbiev is known for his ferocious power, Bivol has established himself as one of the most skillful and technically gifted fighters on the planet. This clash of styles is expected to deliver a blockbuster fight.
Who is on the undercard?
In typical Saudi style, the undercard is packed with exciting bouts. The co-main event is a middleweight fight between British fighter Chris Eubank Jr and Polish veteran Kamil Szeremeta. Eubank has not fought since claiming revenge against Liam Smith 13 months ago and is looking to get back into the world title conversation.
Before then is the heavyweight rematch between British and Commonwealth champion Fabio Wardley and former Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke. The British fighters fought to a thrilling draw in March and will settle their rivalry in Riyadh.
Elsewhere, IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will fight in Riyadh for a third successive time when he defends his title against European champion Jack Massey, and the entertaining light-heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker competes in his ninth pro fight against Liam Cameron.
The undercard begins with Saudi lightweight Mohammaed Alakel making his professional debut against Jesus Gonzalez, before the first world title fight of the night sees Skye Nicolson put her WBC featherweight title on the line against Raven Chapman. The bout will make history as the first women's world title fight ever to be staged in the kingdom.
WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson had been scheduled to defend his title against Joe Cordina, but the American was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury in training.
What is the fight week schedule?
The build-up to fight night starts on Tuesday with the Grand Arrivals when the fighters are introduced in a lavish ceremony at Boulevard City. The open workouts then take place on Wednesday, before a press conference on Thursday and the weigh-ins on Friday.
What time does the event start?
The main card, starting with Alakel v Gonzalez, will begin at 9pm local time (10pm UAE) on Saturday. Beterbiev and Bivol are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 2am UAE time on Sunday morning.
Are tickets still available?
There are still some tickets available, ranging from Dh100 to Dh2000. For ticket options, click here.
Which TV channels are showing the fight?
The show will be broadcast exclusively in the Middle East on DAZN.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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