The pair meet this Saturday at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, atop a stacked bill that looks set to write itself into the history books.

• Read more | Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 / Dubois vs Parker: How to by the fight on DAZN

But before the pair meet in the ring on February 22, they have been in the same room on numerous occasions for press conferences and media events. However, unlike other fighters in their build up, they have refused to shake hands during any of these meetings.

Questions over whether either man has a personal history have raged, and speaking ahead of their latest reunion on canvas, Bivol admits he is unsure as to why.

"I don't know," he told DAZN. "We're just challengers. When we were on the national team, we were shaking hands, no problem, [though] we were not friends.

"I'm not sure if our characters could be alike. Once I heard he said I did not want to shake his hand. But no problem.

"I'm OK with this also, because it is not too important for me to shake his hand. But as a polite person, I'm trying to be polite"

Beterbiev, as instigator, has a simpler reason however, suggesting he simply does not wish to shake hands with a man he must beat first.

"It's very simple," he told DAZN's Ade Oladipo. "For example, if we had a fight tomorrow night, you'd want to beat me, you'd want to punch me as hard as you can. So I don't want to shake your hand. But after, then I shake."

Watch Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 and full Last Crescendo card live on DAZN PPV

Watch Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 and the full Last Crescendo fight card, including Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

The PPV is available to buy now at £19.99 in UK and $25.99 in US. 

Buying the DAZN PPV offers a range of extra benefits. including alternative commentary options with Adam Smith or True Geordie or Showbizz the Adult; local language commentary; entry to a prize draw for tickets to Chris Eubank Jr. vs Connor Benn* (for UK only); and a seven-day free trial of the full DAZN platform.

Watch the fight night anywhere with DAZN via smart TV's, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, streaming devices and PC's / laptops.

For PPV costs in your country and to buy now, click here.

*UK only. Restrictions apply. See T&Cs on help.dazn.com. Full T&C's here

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