‘The Last Crescendo’ – A fan’s perspective.
Give or take a few pence I handed over my extra £20 to a satellite network for another afternoon and evening of world boxing action. This time for once, not reluctantly, but with the promise and anticipation of “the best card ever” and, most certainly this century.
My first dilemma was where, and with whom, should I watch it.
I chose loyalty and my preferred anchor team and commentators (not all members it must be said) over the younger, new era of presenter. I chose the one with an element of female appeal, but also an excellent boxing knowledge at that.
As a big all-round sports fan, on an afternoon of unprecedented finish and start of notable sporting events I chose to abandon the further humiliation of my lifelong football team, the England cricket team again throwing away a good score to the Australians and the start of England v Scotland in the Six Nations rugby at Twickenham.
Every multi-sports fan will have had these ‘difficult’ choices to make. Me being a big fight fan above all else, and knowing the magnitude of the Riyadh Season event, I knew where I was focusing from 5pm GMT, or as near as I could !
Succumbing to the hype and shelling out my ‘hard earned’ has sometimes resulted in my immense disappointment. This time I trusted my knowledge and instinct, and tried to pass on the word to as many as I could in advance of ‘The Last Crescendo’. This was in my view not to be missed.
So, more importantly, how did the event unfold ?
It would be impossible to capture it succinctly in this piece, but I will try…
In so doing I’ve decided to hand out in an Academy Award fashion, the ‘Oscar’ winners of the night.
Fight of the night – Amazingly, the first up on the main telecast of the seven fight card (forgetting the earlier prelim largely for a Saudi audience). The winner being the all-British light-heavyweight contest between world ranked Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith.
A fight so intense and gruelling, that one was almost exhausted on its conclusion just watching it ! Such stubbornness and craft was exhibited by both boxers that it beggared belief and just shaded the man event delivered at the end of the night. Smith winning by unanimous decision (119-110, 115-113 & 116-112).
Knockout of the night – The shot that Joseph Parker landed on the top of the head of Martin Bakole in round two, not only completely discombobulated the 22 stone Congolese behemoth, forcing him to reel backwards and thump to the canvas, but brought back memories of Mike Tyson chasing Trevor Berbick around the ring to wrestle the WBC heavyweight championship in November 1986 and announce his era on the world title scene.
Rocky Balboa ‘bravery award of the night’ – goes to English lightweight contender Josh Padley who accepted a fight on three days notice, downing his tools from his day-job installing solar panels on someone’s roof, to answer His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s call to save this part of the promotion. I’m sure he was handsomely rewarded but the grit he showed to compete with and last eight completed rounds with an established world champion with an elite amateur pedigree was mindboggling. Hats off to him.
Disappointment of the night – Hamzah Sheeraz. For the best part of twelve rounds I sat shouting at my TV to get the impressive to date Londoner to engage and cash in on his opportunity to win the WBC middleweight title and defeat Carlos Adames. This, one of the ‘blue riband’ belts in boxing, previously held by ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler no less.
The fight was declared a split draw 115-114 to Sheeraz, 118-110 Adames & 114-114 even on the official cards. On mine, I had the champion Adames a clear winner as he made the fight with his largely accurate high tempo aggressive approach throughout. Being ‘old school’ I still feel the challenger has to take the title, not back off to secure or steal a points win.
My disappointment was closely followed by the performance of WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson labouring to a ninth round TKO over the aforementioned Josh Padley. I’ve given the greater credit rightly to Padley but no doubt, despite boxing slickly the highly decorated and talented American should’ve closed the show a lot earlier.
Breakout win of the night – German heavyweight Agit Kabayel. I hesitate to use the word prospect for an already top ten world ranked heavyweight. But the manner in which he broke down the favoured Chinese man-mountain Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang was highly impressive. His sixth round KO of his opponent elevates him higher into genuine world heavyweight contention. Zhang must consider at 41 years old whether it’s wise to continue.
Event of the night – Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol. This was always going to be the main course of this sumptuous feast, and didn’t disappoint.
It ended up being twelve rounds of the most intense and elite boxing action, to surpass, if that was possible, their first meeting in October 2024.
By a strange twist of fate the judges returned scores of 114-114, 116-112 & 115-113 were identical to those returned four months ago, but on this night with the other fighter being the victor on majority decision.
Winner of the night – Undoubtedly Dmitry Bivol – the new undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.
Also now, The Ring magazine #4 pound-for-pound fighter, leapfrogging Artur Beterbiev who is relegated to #5. Such was the magnitude of this fight that these are the baubles for the victor.
So exhausted was I on conclusion of the event that I haven’t seen fit to watch a replay of the main fight. I trust my round-by-round scoring on the night by giving Beterbiev a one point victory on winning the last round (115-114). I had the fight dead-even going into the final three minutes and believe the bearded Russian shaded it. I will reserve my final judgement until watching and analysing again, at length, and listening to the multi-fallout from such a magnificent fight.
If, on re-watching and evidence being shown, I will happily concede that “I was wrong” and take my lumps and have great pleasure in accepting the verdict and champion.
I look forward to finding the time and inclination to watch it again. It will happen today I’m sure. But lastly congratulations to all involved in the show which indeed reached all expectations and more !
The Undisputed 
Excellent write up of an event I sadly missed. I admire your stamina, as well as your writing!
I have managed to catch-up on highlights and re-runs and, like you, I was expecting so much more from Hamzah Sheeraz. Whether he had an off night, or he’s just not at the level we hoped he was remains to be seen.
All plaudits go to Callum and Joshua for a real ding dong British fight, and Josh Padley who will surely now go on to secure his future in boxing.
One question I have for you – what are your thoughts on the upcoming Eubank Jr vs Benn fight? I have been in two minds. Nostalgia wise, having been at ringside in Manchester for the second fight between their fathers (back when you could be relatively ringside for less than £100), and a fan of Eubank Snr throughout his career, this is something that initially peaked my interest. But the way the first proposed fight fell apart, and the reasons behind it, alongside the antics of both fighters on both social media and in meetings together just leaves a lot to be desired. They are not so much cementing the legacy of their fathers, more burying it in the quagmire of nastiness and school boy actions. They just don’t seem to have the same level of class – I cannot see them in twenty years time getting together and professing an admiration of each other!
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Hi, firstly thank you for visiting my site and reading the piece. Please don’t consider this patronising, but I’m impressed with your knowledge and given your length of following the sport, that’s not surprising. I’m glad that you’ve maintained your interest and enthusiasm ! Like you I was at Old Trafford in 1993 and also the first fight of the Snrs. You can guess my age profile from that ! Getting to your question – I’m annoyed by the antics too, but we expected that hey ? Underneath all that it’s a FIGHT, that I expect will live up to some of the billing and hype. I’m leaning towards Eubank Jr. on size and experience, but have questions over his desire and ability to mix it anymore. His experience and adaptability should get him through, but he will have to show more heart than in recent fights to come through the storm that Benn will come at him with. The DNA has come through in both families and I think that will ultimately come through and be evidenced in the end. Although possibly like you, I had the 1993 rematch in Benn’s favour, the first fight may be repeated again by an eventual Eubank victory. Hopefully, in a very good fight. Yes, the boxing legacies of the fathers could be tarnished, and without their name there would be no fight, but let’s hope it’s enhanced more ! Enjoy the build-up and event when it happens. Thanks again for reading.
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