After a close run first fight Ring/ undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will rematch Dmitry Bivol at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

The highly anticipated showdown will be broadcast on DAZN Pay-Per-View in America and TNT Sports in the U.K.

Beterbiev (21-0, 20 knockouts), The Ring light heavyweight champion, was an amateur standout, winning gold at the 2009 World Championships and competing at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. The physically imposing Russian quickly gained notoriety as a professional. He won the IBF light heavyweight title, stopping Enrico Koelling (KO 12) and defended against Callum Johnson (KO 4) and Radivoje Kalajdzic (KO 5). His breakout win came against then-WBC titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk (TKO 10) in a unification bout.

The 40-year-old marked time against Adam Deines (TKO 10) and Marcus Browne (KO 9) before demolishing WBO titlist Joe Smith Jr. (TKO 2), he showed his toughness to beatdown Anthony Yarde (TKO 8) and bludgeoned Callum Smith into defeat (TKO 7), and most recently, came on strong to edge home against Bivol (MD 12) in their first meeting for the Ring/ undisputed championships.

Bivol (22-1, 11 KOs), The Ring's No. 1-rated light heavyweight, was also an elite amateur before turning professional in November 2014. The now 34-year-old claimed the WBA light heavyweight title in 2017 and has reeled off 12 successful defenses.

He holds wins over Sullivan Barrera (TKO 12), Isaac Chilemba (UD 12), Jean Pascal (UD 12) and Joe Smith Jr. (UD 12). A career-best win over Canelo Alvarez (UD 12) showed just how good the Kyrgyzstan-born technician is. He picked a part Gilberto Ramirez (UD 12), stayed busy besting Lyndon Arthur (UD 12) and stopped Malik Zinad (TKO 6) before losing to Beterbiev (MD 12).

After a close, absorbing first encounter, who will be able to make the better adjustments? Can Beterbiev (21-0, 20 knockouts) start faster? Will Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) be able to hold off Beterbiev if the defending champion comes on strong unlike last time? Beterbiev had knee surgery prior to the first fight, now he has tested the knee, will he improve? Bivol suffered damage to left eye that even recently looked like it hadn't recovered. Might the eye be an area Beterbiev will target?

Online gambling group William Hill lists Beterbiev as an 4/5 (-125) favorite, while Bivol is priced at 11/10 (+110); the draw is 16/1 (+1600).

"I think it will be another nip-and-tuck, elite-level tactical battle. Bivol will stand his ground a little more in order to get more leverage on his punches and more respect from the defending champ, but that allow for Beterbiev to inflict his special brand of damage over the course of the fight. I think Bivol will be worse for wear by the championship rounds, far more fatigued and punished than he was at the end of the first fight, but I also expect him to last to the final bell. It will be another close one."

"I picked Bivol to win the first time around and he fell just short. It was an incredible effort against one of the most ferocious fighters in the world and he gave it everything. I just don’t know if Bivol can improve on that. Beterbiev has the confidence of beating his rival over 12 rounds and I think he’ll bring even more this time. Bivol will get through the fight but I envision another points loss."

"The first fight was really absorbing but I believe the right guy won. I felt Beterbiev closed strongly and deserved the decision. By modern day standards this is a very quick turnaround for the rematch, which I feel suits the victor of the first fight. That said, now both fighters know each other it will be interesting to see who can adapt and improve. But how much can you improve in a relatively short time period? I feel, like in the first fight, Beterbiev will come on stronger in the second half and claw back what maybe an early deficit on the scorecards to win another decision, this time a 12-round unanimous decision."

"Their first bout was a classic battle of styles and wits, and I expect more of the same in the rematch. Flip a coin on this one. I see another distance fight that's super close, but this time, I think Bivol gets the nod from the judges. Social media will be divided on who "really" won, just like the first time, setting up a rubber match."

"The rematch is here. I believed that Beterbiev would win the first fight by knockout, being that he's the power puncher and was a better boxer than most would give credit. After seeing the first fight, this time, I see Bivol winning a clearer fight. Some close rounds but this time Bivol will have more confidence and knows Beterbiev power and will beat Beterbiev to the punch. I still think it's a close fight, regardless of Bivol winning most rounds, they're still close and competitive. Bivol will win this rematch by decision, and we will look forward to fight No. 3. Bivol 12-round unanimous decision, in a close entertaining fight."

"Beterbiev vs. Bivol is a high-quality, A-level fight between two battlers whose Ring IQ is off-the-charts. For the record, I picked Beterbiev in the first fight, and felt the decision was correct. Ever since I sat (in awe) ringside and did the call of a Beterbiev fight early his career, I have picked him to win every time out. This fight is no different. However, his age does represent a question mark. At some point it is going to come into play. I don't think it's that time yet. I look for an almost exact replay of the first fight. It will be a technically superior fought match, Bivol a slight edge in skills, but Artur's relentless aggressiveness eventually taking its toll. Beterbiev wins by 11th round TKO."

"So hard to pick a winner, as there was nothing between them last time, and that will probably be the case again! Beforehand I picked Beterbiev, on the night I scored it a draw. Beterbiev finished strongly and it will be interesting to see if he can do that again but start a bit sooner or whether Bivol can sustain his tactics and movement for the 12 rounds. Whilst the first fight was a tactical battle as opposed to gruelling, it still will have taken a bit out of both men. And Beterbiev aint getting any younger. This time I’m going with Bivol by 12-round split decision."

"The rematch of Beterbiev-Bivol is still a very tough call, even after their 12 rounds they boxed in October. Not much separated the two, and some believe Bivol did enough to win. My view is that not winning either rounds 11 or 12 really hurt his cause. I think the rematch will look a lot like their original bout. And unless Bivol can really hurt Beterbiev and back him up, I see the same type of close bout. Once again, I see Beterbiev winning a tight decision."

"Round 13! This is where the wear and tear starts to show. I for one thought Bivol sneaked home in the fight intriguing battle of body and soul. I see Bivol squeezing home by the smallest of margin and gaining revenge and drawing 1-1 in the series so far. If that is the case, then we are all set for the trilogy. Bivol wins a decision and I can't wait for this fight."

"For me, it's still a 50/50 fight. I had Bivol as a winner in the first fight, but it seemed to me that Beterbiev wasn't as aggressive as usual. Either Bivol didn't let him, or it was a result of recent surgery, Beterbiev had. We'll find out pretty soon."

"I think Artur is capable of more than what he showed the first fight and will leave no questions unanswered. I believe he will dominate and win with a unanimous decision or maybe late stoppage."

"I enjoyed the first fight, and although it was close, I had it 7-5 for Bivol. However, will not say it was a robbery. In reality 6-6 would have been great. I am more excited for the rematch than the first fight. We all saw a very exiting fight and I believe the sequel will be even better. I believe Beterbiev wants to prove the first wasn’t a fluke and will try to win more decisively. While Bivol didn’t like losing his belts and believes he deserved the victory. To us watching, another great fight with more risks being taken. This first fight showed us the high level of IQ both champions possess. The rematch will show how much more they can add to the game and try to offset the other. Beterbiev is without a question a beast, a beast who trains like no other, and will never enter a ring not prepared. Bivol is on a mission, and I believe will stop at nothing to get back what is his. In the end, he it'll be another close decision but this time the winner by unanimous decision... And New Champion BIVOL. The question will be: Will there be a third fight?"

"In the first fight I thought that Bivol won, but don’t think it was highway robbery. I would have to think in this second fight that Bivol is going to make adjustments in his game plan. I am not sure that Beterbiev will do the same, so I think that Bivol will come out victorious in a close fight."

"I see it being a repeat. I think Beterbiev is going to get the win, but he could get the stoppage, if he goes to the body more."

"I think the same as the first fight. Beterbiev realized Bivol doesn't have power on his punches. I believe Bivol isn't going to get the strength during the four/ five months of preparation to be able to go toe-to-toe with Beterbiev. Beterbiev is going to make the same plan, he's going to put the pressure on, and I think Bivol is going to get prepared just to move around for 12-rounds. If Bivol wants to fight in the middle of the ring, Beterbiev will be able to knock him out or if Bivol is going to go move around, it's going to be on points. Either way Beterbiev is going to win."

"Great fight again. I thought the first fight was excellent. I had Beterbiev just edging it but I'm going for Bivol on points this time."

"I see the fight going the exact same way. Beterbiev's Pressure and Power versus Bivol’s cleaner punching and accuracy. It’s up to the judges to decide what they like more. Personally, I thought Bivol won first fight and I’m favoring his fresher legs in rematch. I think we’re in for another high end, too close to call fight."

"I believe Beterbiev has a lot of room for improvement from the last fight. We all know he had injury issues going into the last fight, but he is recovered and as strong as ever. I also believe his confidence is at a career high. I think he knows he was only about 75 percent last time out and he was still able to come home down the stretch. At 100 percent he will be even more of the wrecking machine we have come to know. That said, Bivol fought a great fight last time out. Almost perfect. How much more can he improve on this is the question. Beterbiev by late stoppage or a dominating 12-round unanimous decision."

"I thought Bivol won last time they fought. He is determined to win this time. He'll be more activity and bring more pressure. The only way Beterbiev wins is by KO. I see a trilogy between these two fighters. Bivol by close unanimous decision."

"I picked Bivol to win the first fight, but I do think that Beterbiev did enough to earn the decision in that one. Going into this one, I think Dmitry will do enough to get the decision win. Just a little bit more activity and offense in that first fight and he would have left victorious. I think this fight is close, just like the first one, but Bivol pulls away with the win, hopefully setting up the trilogy."