09 Aug 2019 19:13:50
AJ vs ruiz rematch 7th dec Saudi Arabia. what a disgrace.


1.) 10 Aug 2019
10 Aug 2019 15:01:00
Hearn was always going to go with the highest bidder.


2.) 11 Aug 2019
11 Aug 2019 10:44:20
It's the biggest fight of the year and it's going to a country that has no experience putting a top level fight on, the amir khan fight there was a shambles. Joshua says he's all about the fans, but this fight is all about the money.


3.) 11 Aug 2019
11 Aug 2019 10:55:15
Boxing is turning into WWE. Hasn't been the same since floyd left.


4.) 12 Aug 2019
11 Aug 2019 22:12:51
It’s absolutely sickening that Saudi Arabia is allowed to host this fight. At least 104 people have been executed there this year including an 18 year old who was simply protesting against the government aged 16. I have zero respect for anyone who profits from working there. Hearn, Joshua, Ruiz, Khan, Fury, all of you are greedy c u next Tuesdays with no regard for human rights.

{Ed001's Note - people are executed in the USA every year as well but you don't complain about fights being held there.}


5.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 10:55:32
Its the suppression of their citizens especially women that needs sorts. I don't care where the fight is as long as that country is capable of showcasing the biggest fight of the year and going by the khan fight Saudi Arabia is not. It's just all about the money.

{Ed001's Note - well then why aren't you against the USA which props up the Sauds? Or the UK who put them in power? Every regime and country is corrupt sadly. They only fight in the US when it pays more or any other country they put events in. I agree it is all about the money. I think you just have to put politics aside, as you can find a reason to be against holding it in any country if you looked. I mean Canada is supposed to be one of the better regimes in the world, yet they have actively been trying to wipe out the indigenous population since at least the 1950s.}


6.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 11:38:22
It's the standard that's annoying me ed. Did u see the Khan fight over there recently? The microphones and speakers they used didn't even work and the atmosphere was terrible.

{Ed001's Note - now that is a good reason not to hold it somewhere, I can get on board with that one. Though they have only recently begun to allow these kind of events to be held in the country (at least they are moving forward I guess) so they are going to struggle to get them right. I am with you on them not holding this level of event yet. They should start with more local events, get used to it and then build up to the big stuff when they are ready and practiced.}


7.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 12:36:14
My thoughts exactly ed mate. If a fight this size is already going to Saudi Arabia then if I were Vegas or Wembley I'd be worried for any future fights. Big fights in saudi Arabia might become the norm with the amount of money being thrown around.

{Ed001's Note - they do love their fighting arts out in the gulf as well as having money to throw at it. You would have a point, but for one thing. Gambling. Most of the money made from boxing comes from betting and having the big fights in a casino brings in lots of punters to the casino to splash the cash. That can't happen in Saudi Arabia, as gambling is illegal, so they are never going to get the kind of return from holding the events that Las Vegas does. The likelihood is that, if Vegas really wants it, then it will be there.

Though there are the odd exception, such as when it is the next big British hope, then you can make more money at Wembley or Pacquiao, where most of the money comes from PPV through the Filipino ex-pats spread around the world so you can hold them anywhere. In the main though, Vegas will always have an edge.}


8.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 13:11:05
Good point on the gambling ed mate. I know that gambling in Saudi Arabia is illegal in all its forms, however as they open their doors to more tourists they have plans to open a new entertainment city were precedents have been set for gambling havens within jurisdictions where gambling is illegal.

{Ed001's Note - I didn't know that. That would be a major worry for Vegas.}


9.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 16:55:48
Not forgetting, that the British fans won't be able to buy alcohol either 😞 lol.

{Ed001's Note - good point and they have denied that they plan to license it for hotels and restaurants like most Gulf nations do, so that will not entice many Brits along!}


10.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 19:00:35
They don't care about the fans, it's the money they r after. If they did care about the fans this fight wouldn't be happening in Saudi Arabia.

{Ed001's Note - I am not sure Ruiz has that many fans to worry about to be fair! This is all about AJ, he is the one that they are paying the money for at the end of the day.}


11.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 19:11:41
Big mistake from AJ imo going out there to box, the heat alone is a major disadvantage.


12.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 19:12:10
Ruiz will have the whole of Mexico behind him now ed.

{Ed001's Note - looks like he ate half of them.}


13.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 19:29:27
Lol belter ed.


14.) 13 Aug 2019
13 Aug 2019 00:09:42
Sums AJ up, that a fat guy beat him, heaven help him if he ever fights an in shape Fury lol.


15.) 25 Aug 2019
25 Aug 2019 05:11:14
I figured China personally, but Saudi Arabia makes sense for Matchroom. They are trying to expand into new markets, looking especially close at South East Asia, some areas of the Middle East while also looking at both the USA and Mexico.
I'm not sure I agree that the location is a terrible one. They held the WBSS Super Middleweight final in Jeddah and that was done reasonably well. It's not ideal for British fans, but for what Matchroom are trying to achieve, the location isn't too bad.
There is a lot of money and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, for snakey salesmen like Eddie Hearn.