For the longest time, Las Vegas was the fight capital of the world and hosted some of the biggest fights in history. The city hosted some legendary bouts such as Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns (1985), Canelo Alvarez vs GGG (2017), and Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao (2015). However, Vegas is losing its allure as the fight capital of the world as more and more marquee match-ups are being held in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Recently, Saudi Arabia has jumped in to host the biggest boxing matches, and more often than not, they have been successful in doing so. In December 2019, they hosted the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. The country was able to secure Joshua’s services once more in 2022 when he tried to avenge his loss to Oleksandr Usyk. Most recently, the country also hosted a Tyson Fury bout as well.
On October 22, 2023, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his boxing debut against “The Gypsy King.” The bout delivered on the entertainment quotient as Ngannou nearly knocked out the WBC heavyweight champion with his trademark unorthodox and powerful punches. Both Ngannou and Joshua will travel to Saudi once more as they will face each other in Riyadh on March 8, 2024.
Although the fighters are happy with the treatment they are receiving in Saudi and more are willing to crossover, some fans are against it. There are question marks over the events as the atmosphere in the Middle East events is not the same as a sold-out soccer stadium in Europe with over 65,000 screaming fans. But, the emergence of Saudi Arabia may not be the worst thing in the world for boxing fans. Let’s find out some reasons why.
Saudi Arabia pays a very high amount to hold boxing events
It is no secret that Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the world. According to a report from CNBC, their Public Investment Fund (PIF) is worth $776 billion! Hence, it is not a surprise that the country is using it as an essential tool to invest heavily in the world of sports and bring the spectacle to the Middle East. In 2022, PIF spent $415 million to buy Premiere League soccer club Newcastle United, as per Sporting News.
It shows their interest in associating with sports to build Saudi as the epicenter of it all. That is the primary reason behind their annual “Riyadh Season” festival. From hosting massive boxing, and WWE events, to acquiring famous soccer players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi has succeeded in catching the attention of the fans. Reportedly, Ronaldo will earn over $400 million in salary from his time playing for Saudi club Al Nassr.
In terms of attracting big boxing fights to the country, Saudi is also offering big money to promoters. According to a report from the Daily Star, the Middle Eastern country paid $80 million to host the 2021 bout between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. For Joshua’s 2019 bout against Andry Ruiz Jr, Saudi reportedly paid $60 million. However, that is not all!
As previously mentioned, Tyson Fury also fought in the country against Francis Ngannou in 2023. Not only that, he is in talks to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia as well. For both fights, Fury will reportedly make a combined fight purse of £160 million ($205 million) as per the Telegraph. Doing business with the Saudis has proven to be a fruitful endeavor for the boxer and it is only going to help fighters secure their financial future.
The heavy pay cheques allow boxers to risk accepting tougher fights
Boxing fans have often complained that the elite fighters don’t face each other often in the prime of their respective careers. The biggest example of it is the 2015 super-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. While the bout was a big deal at the time, many thought both fighters avoided facing each other for most of their careers. However, with the amount of money Saudi Arabia is offering, the boxing game may not be the same.
While Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury was not at the top of the list of fight fans, the massive payday for both fighters made it a reality. Ngannou, who left the UFC for pay disputes, earned $10 million to make his boxing debut. Normally, Tyson Fury would not have accepted a bout against someone like Ngannou who was making his debut. But, everyone has a price and Saudi Arabia is willing to match it and make the dream fights come true.
Boxing fights in Saudi Arabia draw A-list celebrities regularly
Witnessing live sports inside the stadium or arena is the best form of entertainment one can ask for. The entertainment value increases many folds during a boxing event. For example, Tyson Fury was carried out by four stunning women as he sat on a throne with a crown on his head ahead of his second fight against Deontany Wilder in February 2020. For the fans who attended the events live, it was the experience of a lifetime.
And, the events in Saudi attract a lot of celebrities. During the recent Jake Paul fight in December 2023, soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo was in attendance to witness the action unfold. UFC superstar Conor McGregor was also in attendance, sitting right beside the former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend. What it does is generate more and more views for the event and it turns into promotions for the sport.
The Saudis know how to stage a combat sports event and attract a-list celebrities to their fight cards. As they say, all publicity is good publicity, and the Middle East events have done nothing but keep the sport of boxing in the headlines. So all in all, Saudi Arabia’s interest in boxing has been a boon for both the fighters and fans as they have made the sport more accessible for fans with more coverage and amazing fights.
What are some of the downsides of Saudi Arabia’s influence in boxing?
With the good, comes the bad, and Saudi Arabia’s foray into boxing has its downsides too. While the massive pay cheques will make the bigger names fight each other, it will also mean that youngsters will have to wait for their chances to fight the legends for longer. For example, Tyson Fury’s fight against certainly delayed his inevitable bout against Oleksandr Usyk.
Similarly, Anthony Joshua could have faced Deontay Wilder instead of Ngannou, which would have been a better fight in terms of boxing merits. After the Fury vs Ngannou showdown, former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title contender Chael Sonnen had some harsh words for Saudis. Taking to his social media accounts, Sonnen wrote, “INCREDIBLE NEWS!!! CIMATE… CRISIS… AVERTED… Saudi Arabia discovers NEW FUEL… to burn instead of Oil!!! BOXING’S… CREDIBILITY.”
INCREDIBLE NEWS!!!
CLIMATE
CRISIS
AVERTEDSaudi Arabia discovers NEW FUEL
to burn instead of Oil!!!BOXING’S
CREDIBILITY— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) October 30, 2023
So it will be interesting to see how the country goes on about its foothold in the sport of boxing and how the pugilists handle the situation going forward. But, what do you think of the matter? Let us know in the comments below.