In a recent interview, Ben Shalom responds to the viral clip of his altercation with rival promoter Frank Warren, just days before the highly anticipated Bivol vs Beterbiev bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The incident, which quickly circulated across social media platforms, highlighted the intense rivalry between the two prominent boxing figures ahead of a stacked fight card.
In the clip, Shalom can be seen stepping in front of Warren to position himself between his fighter, Chris Eubank Jr, and Eubank’s opponent, Kamil Szeremeta, during their final face-off before the event. While the exact words exchanged remain unintelligible, it was immediately apparent that Warren was displeased with Shalom’s actions, leading to a heated moment between the two promoters.
Ben Shalom and Frank Warren’s Odd Exchange on Stage
Speaking to YouTuber, Boxing King Media, Shalom later addressed the events, explaining his perspective on the confrontation. He stated that he’d ‘been blocked from being around my fighters all week’ and emphasized that ‘all I was doing was being around my fighter, which I’m allowed to be, which I’m supposed to be’.
Shalom elaborated on the underlying tension, suggesting, ‘I think the anger was that I didn’t just stand on the side and let them be with my fighters […] and pretend I don’t exist’. He further commented on Warren’s reaction, remarking, ‘It was unbelievable, if that was my grandad I’d be telling him to calm down, and I mean that in a respectful way, it’s way over the top, his blood pressure must be through the roof’. This exchange underscored the fierce promotional battles that often spill over outside the ring, adding another layer of drama to an already significant boxing event in Riyadh.
Light-Heavyweight Unification and Historic Rematch
The main event of the Riyadh card on October 12, 2024, was the highly anticipated undisputed light-heavyweight clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Both fighters entered the ring with impressive, undefeated records, with Beterbiev holding a perfect 20-0 record, all by knockout, and Bivol boasting 23-0 with 12 KOs. The winner was set to become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion in 22 years, an accolade last achieved by Roy Jones Jr. in 1999.
In a tactical chess match that went the full twelve rounds, Artur Beterbiev emerged victorious by majority decision, with judges scoring the bout 115-113, 116-112, and a surprising 114-114 draw. This marked the first time Beterbiev was taken the distance in his professional career, ending his remarkable 20-fight knockout streak. With this win, Beterbiev unified the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, and WBO titles, solidifying his place as the undisputed king of the 175-pound division.
However, the story didn’t end there. A highly anticipated rematch, billed as “The Last Crescendo,” took place on February 22, 2025. In a dramatic turn of events, Dmitry Bivol avenged his sole professional loss, defeating Artur Beterbiev by majority decision with scores of 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113. This victory saw Bivol reclaim his WBA Super title and seize Beterbiev’s WBC, WBO, and IBF belts, making him the new undisputed light-heavyweight champion. Beterbiev suffered his first professional defeat, moving his record to 21-1 (20 KOs), while Bivol improved to 24-1 (12 KOs). The outcome has sparked immediate speculation about a potential trilogy fight, promising further excitement in the light-heavyweight division.
Undercard Highlights and Outcomes
The Riyadh card featured a compelling undercard with several significant bouts. Chris Eubank Jr, who was at the center of the pre-fight promotional spat, faced Kamil Szeremeta. Eubank Jr (then 33-3, 23 KOs) delivered a dominant performance, stopping Szeremeta (26-3-2, 9 KOs) in the seventh round via TKO, further bolstering his middleweight credentials.
In a chaotic light-heavyweight contest, Ben Whittaker (8-0, 5 KOs at the time) stepped up against Liam Cameron (23-6-1, 10 KOs). Their initial bout on October 12, 2024, ended in a bizarre split decision technical draw in the fifth round. The fight was halted after both fighters tumbled over the ropes, resulting in an injury to Whittaker, who was forced to withdraw. The judges’ scorecards at the time read 58-57 for Whittaker, 58-57 for Cameron, and 58-58, leading to the technical draw. A rematch was swiftly arranged for April 20, 2025, in Birmingham. In the second encounter, Whittaker (now 9-0-1, 6 KOs) secured a controversial second-round TKO victory over Cameron (now 24-7-1, 10 KOs), with the referee’s stoppage drawing criticism.
Another highly anticipated rematch saw Frazer Clarke (8-0-1, 6 KOs) take on Fabio Wardley (17-0-1, 16 KOs) for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. Their first encounter on March 31, 2024, ended in a thrilling split draw. However, the rematch on October 12, 2024, was far more decisive, with Wardley delivering a stunning first-round knockout victory over Clarke. This emphatic win solidified Wardley’s position in the domestic heavyweight scene, while Clarke’s record moved to 8-1-1 after the loss, later to 9-3-1 (7 KOs) as of April 2026.
Elsewhere on the undercard, Jai Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight world title against Jack Massey (22-3, 12 KOs). Opetaia dominated the bout, with Massey’s corner throwing in the towel in the sixth round due to a cut, resulting in a TKO victory for the champion. Massey’s record now stands at 23-3 (13 KOs).
In a historic moment for women’s boxing in Saudi Arabia, Skye Nicolson (11-0, 1 KO) faced off against Raven Chapman (9-0, 2 KOs) for the WBC featherweight title. Nicolson delivered a masterful performance, outboxing Chapman over ten rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 98-92. This marked Chapman’s first professional loss, while Nicolson’s record improved to 12-0 (1 KO) after the fight, later reaching 15-1 (3 KOs) as of March 2025.
Implications for the Divisions
The Riyadh event had significant implications across multiple divisions. Dmitry Bivol’s reclamation of the undisputed light-heavyweight championship in the rematch against Artur Beterbiev has firmly established him as a pound-for-pound elite and potentially the greatest light-
