The final faceoff between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol was about as unremarkable Friday afternoon as all of their other promotional meetings leading up to their immediate rematch. Most important, of course, was that Beterbiev and Bivol came in at or below the light heavyweight limit for their second 12-round, 175-pound title fight Saturday night at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev, 40, stepped on the British Boxing Board of Control’s scale at exactly 175 pounds, almost a full pound more than the 34-year-old Bivol, who officially weighed 174.1.

It was out of his control, but Vergil Ortiz Jr. wasn’t really on board with the original plan for his next opponent.

It’s the Last Crescendo. Artur Beterbiev defends his Undisputed World Light Heavyweight World Titles against Dmitry Bivol on February 22 in an unmissable rematch, headlining an iconic Riyadh Season extravaganza - live worldwide on DAZN. (photos by Mark Robinson)

Vergil Ortiz Jr. did his homework, as promised. The unbeaten interim WBC 154-pound titlist vowed to look into the true meaning of ‘The Last Crescendo,’ the title of this weekend’s loaded fight card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ortiz admitted he didn’t quite understand it, during the kickoff press conference in January.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. is a yes man – he simply says yes to every opponent that is thrown his way. The WBC interim title holder Ortiz is set to fight Israil Madrimov in a junior middleweight matchup on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the undercard of the stacked event headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Israil Madrimov will be the first to tell you how much of a fan he is of Terence Crawford, even after falling narrowly short in their August 3 main event on the 36-year-old's junior middleweight debut. Yet with his former foe close to securing a Canelo Alvarez showdown later this year, the former world champion is of the opinion it won't be a successful trip up two further weight classes for the pound-for-pound star.

If Canelo Alvarez is who Terence Crawford wants, then it appears that’s who he will get. As previously reported by The Ring, Alvarez and Crawford have held discussions regarding a mega matchup. All along, The Ring, WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight champion appeared apathetic toward the entire situation but things have now changed.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. is among those who believe his upcoming showdown with Israil Madrimov will steal the spotlight on a loaded Riyadh Season show.

It’s the Last Crescendo. Artur Beterbiev defends his Undisputed World Light Heavyweight World Titles against Dmitry Bivol on February 22 in an unmissable rematch, headlining an Riyadh Season extravaganza - live worldwide on DAZN. (photos by Mark Robinson)

A showdown against Canelo Alvarez seemed inevitable. Now, it's more like a pipe dream. David Benavidez nonetheless gave his outlook on how a prospective clash between the super-middleweight king and four-weight world champion Terence Crawford would play out, based on the Omaha native's recent foray to junior middleweight.