Boxing gets a new heavyweight as Saudi makes a knockout debut
Boxing’s new golden era is born in Saudi Arabia
Have you noticed how boxing action’s been off the charts since Saudi Arabia got in the ring? Pro fighters like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are filling stadiums in Riyadh and captivating fans with every jab, cross, and hook. Are you in on the action yet?
Is Saudi planning to take over and become the capital of pro boxing?
Boxing has iconic venues around the world – from Caesar’s Palace and Madison Square Garden in the USA to Cotai Arena in China and York Hall in London, or the historic Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines. Saudi’s adding an incredible new world destination to this Hall of Fame.
And the Kingdom has already hosted some of the biggest fights of the last few years. The ‘Ring of Fire’ clash – Fury v. Usyk – was the first undisputed heavyweight title showdown since Lewis vs. Holyfield 25 years ago.
It all started with 2019’s ‘Clash on the Dunes’ – the debut heavyweight bout for the Middle East; then came ‘Knockout Chaos’ (Joshua vs. Ngannou) and ‘Battle of the Baddest’ (Fury vs. Ngannou). These aren’t just small wins. Super fights don’t come round very often (we’ll spill the tea on that in a minute).
So why Saudi? Why not! The country is sports-mad for athletic excellence and thrilling throwdowns: Football, tennis, golf, motor-racing… so why not boxing too?
A young population (over 60% are under 30 years old) are loving the live athletic action. Although there’s massive interest in sports and sporting events, till now Saudis have tended to prefer watching on TV or online. With top tier events right on their home turf, the potential for growth is huge! They’re spending a lot more time on fitness and competitive sports and making a name in international sports. Amateur athletes have enviable opportunities to chase a career in pro sport. We’re seeing women’s boxing take off in a big way since the first pro fight two years ago. Ragad al-Naimi became a household name in the Kingdom since her sensational win last year – on the same fight card as Tyson Fury and Jake Paul!
Up-and-coming boxers from everywhere are eyeing the modern training facilities, even the world’s first Mike Tyson Boxing Club, launched by “Iron Mike” in Riyadh’s Boulevard City in 2023.
How do these investments benefit the sport?
For many fans, the 1970s were the golden decade of boxing. The buzz went beyond sporting achievement. It was high drama thanks to the epic fights between iconic heroes in globe-trotting rivalries. These huge events, their highs and lows, energized younger competitors, enthralled audiences, and inspired movies like Rocky!
Today, boxing is a “splintered” sport according to several sources, with four main governing bodies, different belts and titles across 17 weight classes. The big-money fights that the system runs on only happen if the fighters (and their promoters) can settle on the fight purse. Pundits point to the absurdity that champs like Fury, at age 35, and Usyk, at 37, hadn’t fought each other until Riyadh. There is simply no more “Rumble in the Jungle” anymore where the iconic Muhammed Ali floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, or “Thrilla in Manila” where the legend fought to reclaim his title back from George Foreman.
This is where Saudi is stepping in. The Ring of Fire (Fury vs. Usyk) was referred to as the “Fight of the Century” because it was the first time in decades that two massive champions were actually fighting each other. Kingdom Arena’s 30,000 seats were all sold out. Journalists, diplomats, celebrities, boxing fans, everyone poured into Riyadh to see the game. From superstars like Ryan Garcia, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, to Saudi-based Steven Gerrard, manager of Saudi League team Al Ettifaq, and Al-Nassr player Cristiano Ronaldo, ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United legend, and Hollywood stars like Liev Schreiber and Eminem. Why? Because Saudi is starting to unify boxing again; it’s setting the stage for real fights with real boxing, not just boxing for the money.
In short, Saudi is creating a modern legacy for boxing.
Should I bother spending money to fly into Saudi just for a boxing match?
You may have heard the saying, “Football is never just football.” Well, boxing is never just boxing – not in the Kingdom, anyway. Glamping, hiking, street food, dune-bashing, five-star dining; these may not be written on your match ticket, but they’ll await you during your trip. This country mixes up heritage, hospitality, history and ultra-modernity in a way that just seems to hit different.
Last year’s string of big boxing bouts, for example, was part of “Riyadh Season”, where fans got to see the likes of Djokovic and Alcaraz, Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka at the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup. Hot on their heels was the Spanish Super Cup featuring Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Osasuna. So, start with boxing, and see where else it takes you.
Header Photo Source: Getty Images
