The Riyadh Season boxing events have led to unification fights, created undisputed champions and moved storylines forward. The most recent Riyadh Season show saw one undisputed championship change hands, featured two additional world title bouts, and was newsworthy both for what happened in the seven main fights that day in Kingdom Arena – and what those results mean going forward.

The event, titled “The Last Crescendo,” will continue to reverberate. Here are the storylines that stand out to this set of eyes:

Dmitry Bivol has options – and some big choices to make

It was only natural that the close first fight between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev led to an immediate rematch. It seems fitting, now that Bivol has won the rematch and seized the undisputed light heavyweight championship, for a third fight to follow.

Fitting but not certain.

It depends on what Beterbiev wants; he may choose another route (more on that in the next section). 

It depends on what boxing financier Turki Alalshikh wants; his paydays made both of these fights happen. 

And it depends on what the sanctioning bodies call for – and if Bivol decides whether to treat some of those mandates as options.

Bivol owes fights to mandatory challengers Michael Eifert, Callum Smith and David Benavidez, potentially in that order. The size of the paydays likely goes in reverse order. Will the sanctioning bodies allow Bivol to hold on to his four belts given the fees they’ll receive as a result? Will Bivol vacate a title or two to make the fights that make the most money?

And will Canelo Alvarez, as part of his deal with Alalshikh, seek a rematch with the man who defeated him in 2022?

How much closer to retirement is Beterbiev?

That seems a strange question to ask given that, entering “The Last Crescendo,” Beterbiev was either the best light heavyweight in the world or one of the two best – depending on how you saw his first fight with Bivol. After the rematch Beterbiev is still, at age 40, a close No. 2 behind Bivol. 

Physically, Beterbiev can still perform at a high level. Bivol had to put forth one of the best outings of his career in order to win.

The question isn’t physical, but mental. Not whether Beterbiev still has it mentally. Rather, it’s whether he wants it.

In his post-fight interview, Beterbiev was asked about a potential third fight with Bivol and responded that he didn’t even want the second one. Beterbiev has boxed professionally for 12 years and only has 22 pro fights, but he had an extensive amateur career before entering the paid ranks.

These two fights with Bivol brought career-high paydays. The prize, plus the pride on the line, were likely motivators for Beterbiev going forth with the rematch. Both factors could come into play for a rubber match, if Beterbiev wants to regain his championship, close the book on the rivalry and get paid handsomely in the process.

There’s more to this world, however, than money and professional pursuits. It would not be surprising if Beterbiev decides he’s done and earned enough. It also wouldn’t be surprising if he seeks other challenges within the sport.

It’s too early to know what Beterbiev will do next. Fortunately for him, that decision will be based on where his head is at rather than what his body has left.

Hamzah Sheeraz suffers a setback, though not a huge one

Sheeraz was being pushed as the heir apparent at middleweight, a rising star on a quick ascent in an otherwise shallow pool of talent. Sheeraz isn’t sinking after his draw with WBC titleholder Carlos Adames, but it’s fair to say he has some more work to do before trying once more to swim with the sharks.

The fight ending as a draw was rather fortunate for Sheeraz. Many observers believed Adames did more than enough to win. That means Sheeraz will be seen as the defeated man, even if that’s not what the official result says.

That’s also how Sheeraz should approach things. Granted, he suffered a left hand injury early in the bout that must have had some affect on his performance. Nevertheless, Sheeraz and his team should use this as a learning opportunity, examining what went well, what didn’t go as well, why, and how to improve. Then they should test those improvements against the second tier of middleweights.

The good news for Sheeraz is that he shouldn’t have to wait long once he’s ready for a second title shot. There just isn’t much talent at 160lbs after the titleholders (Adames, Janibek Alimkhanuly and Erislandy Lara). Among the other top contenders are Shane Mosley Jnr and Chris Eubank Jnr. There are a handful of prospects, including Yoenli Hernandez, Troy Isley Etinosa Oliha and Shakiel Thompson. Adames’ next mandatory challenger is the unbeaten Meiirim Nursultanov.

Sheeraz, with the backing of Queensberry Promotions and Alalshikh, will be able to land another major fight when the time is right. In the meantime, he can work on healing that hand and fixing those flaws.

A much bigger setback for Joshua Buatsi, a huge comeback for Callum Smith

Buatsi had been in line for a light heavyweight title shot since September, when he defeated Willy Hutchinson for the WBO’s interim belt. But few believed then that Buatsi was truly ready for the likes of Beterbiev and Bivol. There’s a reason that the February 1 bout between David Benavidez and David Morrell – two recent arrivals at 175lbs – was seen as establishing the de facto top contender for the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol II.

Benavidez beat Morrell with a performance justifying that perspective. Three weeks later, the consensus perspective o Buatsi was similarly justified as he lost to Smith in an otherwise gutsy effort.

From this columnist’s perspective, the situation feels different with the 31-year-old Buatsi than with the 25-year-old Sheeraz, both individually and within their respective weight classes.

What happens next at light heavyweight depends on whether we get Bivol-Beterbiev III and if Bivol decides to vacate any of his four world titles rather than defend them against his mandatory challengers, as noted earlier in this article. 

For Buatsi, he will likely take a confidence-builder upon his return and then should aim for a domestic-level clash; the winner of Anthony Yarde-Lyndon Arthur III, which takes place April 26, would be a good route. Then Buatsi could set his sights on some of the other names and fringe contenders, be it Morrell, Albert Ramirez, Oleksandr Gvozdyk or Radivoje Kalajdzic, among others.

As for Smith? He’s regained a foothold at the perfect time. His only two losses came against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in late 2020 and Beterbiev at the start of 2024. It was still rational to wonder if he was on his way out. Now Smith is due a shot with Bivol, which is likely more appealing to the 34-year-old Liverpudlian than trying to take on Beterbiev again. Or, if Bivol decides to go another route and vacates his WBO title, Smith could be upgraded. Matchroom Boxing promotes both men.

It actually wasn’t a “no lose” situation for Martin Bakole

Anyone recounting Bakole’s second professional defeat will need to include the necessary context: He came in on incredibly short notice, was called on just a couple of days before the event, flew from Congo to Saudi Arabia, and took on a resurgent heavyweight contender in Joseph Parker. Bakole weighed 310 pounds, the heaviest of his career, 26 pounds higher than in his dominant August victory over Jared Anderson.

Parker rocked and dropped Bakole in the second round. Bakole’s corner quickly threw in the towel, recognizing that the circumstances were not ideal, the odds were not in their favor, and discretion at that point would be the better part of valor.

Everyone knows that wasn’t the best version of Bakole who lost. But Bakole still lost. And there will be repercussions for that.

Bakole not only lost a fight for Parker’s WBO interim title, and the title shot that will eventually bestow. Bakole also will no longer get the IBF title elimination bout that was in the works. That fight, against Efe Ajagba, was expected to be part of the May 2 card in New York City featuring Ryan Garcia-Rolando Romero and Devin Haney-Jose Ramirez.

Instead, the third slot on that Times Square show has gone to Teofimo Lopez-Arnold Barboza. It is a change that may have happened anyway. But Bakole’s defeat certainly didn’t help his cause.

Bakole, who has appeared on three straight Riyadh Season shows, must hope that Alalshikh will show his appreciation, bring him back for a fourth and slot him in another important fight. The heavyweight division is packed. There are several fighters now ahead of Bakole in line. But as we’ve seen with Parker, these events can help fighters rebuild and return to a position that once seemed out of reach. It would help Bakole to stay active – and to remain ready, just in case.

Speaking of Parker…

Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel earn opportunities that otherwise might not have come

Opportunities are given, sure. And then they are also earned.

Parker seemed on the outs after being knocked out by Joe Joyce in 2022. The former heavyweight titleholder has since won six in a row and is now one of the top contenders for a title shot. 

He was provided with opportunities and took full advantage of them. 

Parker has won four straight on Riyadh Season shows. In a 127-day span between October 2023 and March 2024, Parker made short work of Simon Kean and won decisions over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. That landed Parker a title fight with Daniel Dubois on the February 22 show; however, Dubois fell ill and Bakole stepped in.

Whether Parker takes on Dubois (IBF), lineal champion Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBC and WBO) or another opponent next, his unlikely comeback has been rather enjoyable to follow.

Kabayel, while undefeated, has similarly benefited. He had fought almost exclusively in Germany and Turkey as 2023 began. By the end of that year, he made his Riyadh debut with a fourth-round stoppage of the unbeaten Arslanbek Makhmudov. Kabayel has since returned to Saudi Arabia twice, taking out the undefeated Frank Sanchez and breaking down Zhilei Zhang. He has the WBC’s interim heavyweight title – and, because of these shows, he has our attention.

Time for Zhilei Zhang to cash out

Zhang turns 42 this May. He earned a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics and then lost to another eventual gold medallist, Anthony Joshua, in the 2012 Games. Zhang bloomed late after fighting to a draw against Jerry Forrest in 2021, and fighting against his body betraying him during that bout. There also was a loss to Filip Hrgovic in 2022.

But then came a pair of sensational stoppage wins against Joe Joyce in 2023. Even after Zhang lost to Parker in March 2024, he came back three months later with a highlight-reel knockout of Deontay Wilder. People were on the “Big Bang Zhang” Train.

That train is due to pull into the station soon.

Zhang has reached his limit against a certain level of heavyweight. He still has enough name value, and enough in the tank, to make for some fun fights. If we don’t get a fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury in 2025, how about Joshua and Zhang having their rematch in the pros? Could Zhang also headline in his home country of China?

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.