On behalf of his “Excellence”
How absurd Saudi Arabia rules over the boxing world
By Martin Armbruster
January 17, 2024, 8:06 p.m
The first press conference before the heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou turns into a show of force by Saudi Arabia. The absolutist monarchy is on its way to dominating the sport of boxing. One man plays a key role.
Whoever pays, creates. A truism in the price war. One that Saudi Arabia is currently displaying impressively and powerfully in heavyweight boxing. At the first press conference in London before the highly staged fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou on March 8th in Riyadh, this was done by a man who everyone in the boxing business now reverently calls “His Excellency”: Turki Al-Sheikh. The 42-year-old is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s entertainment minister in the Al-Saud empire – responsible for the “bread and circus games” area.
Thanks to their bulging sovereign wealth fund, the Saudis have been putting on boxing events since the beginning of their “Riyadh Season” that have not been seen in the heavyweight division for a long time. Critics call this political business model “sportswashing,” which de facto king bin Salman makes no secret of. Global citizens and politicians should look at his country with wonder and admiration. The glossy events serve “MBS” to distract from Saudi Arabia’s crimes in the Yemen war or the human rights violations in its own state.
Hardly any sport is better suited to this than prize boxing. While the first, expensively purchased footballers are already thinking about leaving due to the poor mood in the Saudi Pro League, the pugilists just have to “get to work”. Once or twice a year. In view of the Saudi temptations, even the “enemy” British promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn suddenly shake each other’s hands in a good mood and work together politely on behalf of “His Excellency”. The (Petro) dollar manages to bring even its biggest rivals together.
The super fight takes place on February 17th
This was already visible shortly before Christmas, when six heavyweight duels took place in Riyadh without the usual promoter and TV haggling. In addition to Joshua (who won) and US star Deontay Wilder (who lost), German hopeful Agit Kabayel also boxed in the desert. The “boy from the pot” crushed the heavily hyped Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov in the Kingdom Arena.
In February the boxing circus in Saudi Arabia reaches its peak. The unbeaten world champions Tyson Fury (WBC) and Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBO, IBF) will meet on February 17th in Riyadh’s “Ring of Fire” – as the fight motto is. For the first time since the great Lennox Lewis more than 20 years ago, there will be an Undisputed Champion, an undisputed champion of all boxing classes.
In the opening act, Australian Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis from Latvia fight for the cruiserweight world championship. A duel that would be a main fight anywhere else in the world, but for the Saudis it is good enough as an appetizer for the big thing. The same applies to March 8th, when Joseph Parker from New Zealand and the giant Chinese Zhang Zhilei play the hotspots for Joshua and Ngannou.
Joshua, promoted by Hearn, and ex-cage fighter Ngannou, who is under contract with Warren, mark the end of the “Riyadh season”. After that, the fasting month of Ramadan hits pause. Ngannou, a former champion of the UFC MMA series, is fighting in only his second professional fight as a boxer. He lost his debut – at the “season opener” – by a narrow margin to Fury on points, but earned eight figures. According to media reports, the duet with Joshua will bring in even more for the Cameroonian, bringing in around $20 million. The Brit even collected $50 million.
The patronage of Al-Sheikh
Who, when, where and against whom will fight – in the future it will no longer be determined by promoters like Warren or Hearn. Neither do the influential TV channels in the USA and Great Britain. In the future, “His Excellency” will be in charge. In any case, Al-Sheikh made it clear during his appearance in London how things should proceed. First he “ordered” in a patronizing manner that Hearn and Warren should please select five of their top fighters and let them go at each other, which they were immediately delighted to do.
Then Al-Sheikh presented a (chunky) “WUHC” (World Undisputed Heavyweight Champion) belt for the winner of the duel between Fury and Usyk and set the direction for the boxing year 2024: “This is waiting for the winner on the 8th. “March,” he said and pointed to the huge screen on which his belt was emblazoned. That means: Joshua or Ngannou will challenge the newly crowned ruler. The next mega event in the Gulf. Fury and Usyk have already contractually agreed on a direct rematch. But: If Al-Sheik and Co. want to see another fight first, Papier is patient.
With their dollar bazooka, the Saudis are overriding certain boxing laws. Until now, unification fights between the world champions of the competing associations, between rival promoters and television broadcasters were rare because they were difficult to negotiate and implement. Al-Sheikh negates all of this and fills up the trenches with his seemingly endless flow of money.
You can also earn good money in the supporting program
The Saudis are only interested in the big show, the sporting gloss for their country. And because there is enough waste for everyone, everyone takes part: associations, promoters, boxers, TV producers. The light heavyweight division provides the next example: In June, world champions Artur Beterbiev (WBC, WBO, IBF, contract with promoter Bob Arum and ESPN) and Dmitry Bivol (WBA, affiliated with Hearn and DAZN) will be the only true champion, just like Fury and Usyk identify in their class. Where? Is clear.
Because such major battles are finally taking place, Saudi Arabia’s increasing role as ruler is not only accepted, but also appreciated by the vast majority of protagonists. At the same time, potential World Cup challengers, who used to get a quick chance for the title in the associations’ scheming, must obey the instructions from Riyadh and be patient. This also applies to Agit Kabayel.
The world association WBC placed the German fourth in its world rankings after his victory over Makhmudov. But it is unlikely that Kabayel will get a chance at the World Cup any time soon. First up are Fury, Usyk, Joshua, Ngannou. The 31-year-old has no need to worry. You can also earn good money in the supporting program with big names – and build star status. Kabayel already got a taste of this in December.