Saudi Arabia Continues Global Boxing Expansion With Joshua v Dubois In London
Saudi Arabia cemented its status as the new central power of global boxing with the announcement of the IBF heavyweight world title fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
However, this time, the bout will not be taking place in Riyadh – as all heavyweight title bouts have in recent years – but back in the more traditional location of London. That has not diminished the involvement of the Saudis, though, with Riyadh Season organizing and promoting the mega event at Wembley Stadium.
Before Joshua and Dubois do battle for heavyweight glory, an exciting undercard will get the action underway.
Five bouts have already been announced to precede Joshua v Dubois. Highly rated middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz challenges Tyler Denny for his European title in the co-main event, and IBF super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace defends his belt against Josh Warrington.
Before that, former middleweight world champion Liam Smith fights Josh Kelly, Joshua Buatsi puts his WBO interim light-heavyweight title on the line against Willy Hutchinson, and unbeaten lightweight Mark Chamberlain takes on Josh Padley.
Saudi Arabia Delivers Another Stacked Card
It’s unclear whether more fights will be added, yet the depth of the confirmed line-up continues a welcome trend of stacked cards when the Saudis and Riyadh Season are involved.
A few weeks before the UK’s biggest boxing event of the year, Riyadh Season will make its international debut in the United States – and once again the line-up is impressive. So impressive, in fact, that many are claiming it could be the best card, in terms of depth, ever seen in the U.S.
Terence Crawford’s long-awaited return headlines the August 3 event in Los Angeles, where the former two-weight undisputed champion aims to win a world title in a third division against WBO super-welterweight titlist Israil Madrimov.
It’s an event that will also see former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz fight Jarrell Miller, heavyweight contender Jared Anderson take on Martin Bakole, David Morrell challenge for the vacant WBA light-heavyweight title against Radivoje Kalajdzic, and lightweight talent Andy Cruz continue his rise against Antonio Moran.
What these two international ventures in Los Angeles and London demonstrate is that Saudi Arabia, and specifically Riyadh Season, are only interested in putting on the best boxing events possible. As newcomers to the boxing business, and with enormous wealth powering their ambition, these international cards are making massive statements about Saudi Arabia’s boxing ambitions.
Are The Saudis Saving Boxing?
There has been plenty of criticism aimed at Saudi Arabia, with critics claiming the huge investment in sports and entertainment is a strategy to deflect attention away from human rights issues within the country. Saudi Arabia, which until recently had outlawed most forms of entertainment, insists it’s simply modernizing and diversifying its economy to end its reliance on oil.
Of all the investments made in sports – including soccer, tennis, motor racing, esports, and MMA – boxing has been Saudi Arabia’s crown jewel and it’s easy to see why. Fans of other sports are not deprived of seeing the best compete against the best, whereas boxing has frequently failed to deliver the best fights, leading to fans turning away from the sport.
So the involvement of Saudi Arabia to ensure these fights are taking place has been refreshing for fight fans. It’s not an exaggeration to suggest Saudi Arabia is actually saving the sport.
Even with that, fans have been frustrated by most of the big events being held in the Middle East, making it prohibitive for many to attend in terms of costs and distance. There has also been criticism for the lack of atmosphere at the events happening in Riyadh.
But with Riyadh Season now taking its events to locations in the U.S and U.K, much of that criticism from fight fans will subside. All boxing fans want is to see the biggest fights, and if Saudi Arabia is making them happen in more convenient locations, the fans will be happy.
The shows in Los Angeles and London will only be the start of Saudi’s global boxing expansion, particularly with Turki Alalshikh at the helm. For most people associated with the sport, from fighters and promoters to sponsors and fans, they will hope it only continues.
