27 Sep 2024 19:45:14
What's everyone's opinion on the Saudi involvement in Boxing?

1.) 28 Sep 2024
28 Sep 2024 10:13:48
At the start I wasn't too keen, I thought the shows were amateurish and lacked atmosphere but over the last year or so they have been amazing. Some still might point to a lack of atmosphere but the production level and quality of the cards have been brilliant.

I do think but why the Saudis are doing this? They aren't doing this to make a profit, is it just one rich man's love of the sport? Or is there other reasons behind it? Some might point to the playing of the Saudi national anthem and say that is there reason but I'm not sure.

Looking at the positives, they have held some fabulous cards and finally the fans are getting a lot of the fights we wanted. They have brought Matchroom and Queensbury together which can only be good for the sport going forward. They have brought more good attention to the sport imo.

On the negatives, there seems to be no structure to this. It just seems it is the route that Turki Alalshikh
Wants to see. Cause I have no real idea on why the Saudis are involved I don't know how long they plan to be involved. What happens to the sport if they decide to put their doe into another sport, what happens to boxing? Also heard a lot of rumours about Turki Alalshikh having health problems, hopefully the mam is ok but he seems to be driving force behind the doe so if true how much longer will this continue?

Boxing at the moment is in a see saw position, could be up one month and down the next. Be interesting to see how this pans out.

More worrying is the Olympic situation for the LA games in 2028. I read the World boxing are taking steps towards securing the future of boxing in the games but let's hope they can convince the IOC by next year cause boxing not being an Olympic sport would be disastrous for the sport.

2.) 28 Sep 2024
28 Sep 2024 20:57:43
From what I was reading, a lot of the Middle Eastern countries are trying to create an economy that isn't oil based. Dubai went for international tourism, Saudi Arabia seems to be going for global sports.

The Saudi's have quite a few different sports which they are openly trying to take over. Boxing is most definitely one of them, Pool is another and I think they are/were trying to make Saudi Arabia the big league, though I'm not sure how that is going to be honest lol.

Maybe Ed002 would have a little bit of information? I know the focus is on Football but you seem to be well versed in economics so I figured it's worth asking.

My main concern is that the current model is completely unsustainable. They are throwing loads of money at this and it's not making the same profits.

Matchroom and Queensberry have essentially become vassal promotional companies for the Rihyad Season cards and I suspect that once Joshua retires or it's clear he's no longer a big draw, Eddie will 'sell' Matchroom to Turki and likely become an ambassador to Rihyad Season or something.

Frank will likely do the same, but at a later date.

I suspect Turki's main goal is to create a UFC style system but with his own personal touch. A system where he selects the fights, controls all the finances and is lauded as a hero for 'saving Boxing'.

While I most certainly am hopeful of change in Boxing, I'm not necessarily sure Turki is the right man to take it forward.

3.) 29 Sep 2024
29 Sep 2024 10:57:18
Thinking purely on boxing I think I would be OK with Turki taking over, he seems to listen to what the fans want and creates it.
Look at the show last week, 6 bouts quick turn around between bouts and main event starting before 10pm. Compare that to a Top rank show where we get 10 fights, 2 episodes of 24/7 between each fight and whole show lasts 8 hours.
We all know the sanctioning bodies r a joke anyway so I'd be OK with Turki taking over if the last year is to go by.

My worry is when Turki or Saudi have had enough what happens to the sport after? Also worrying is stories of journalists being blacklisted from events if they bad mouth Turki or the show.

4.) 05 Oct 2024
05 Oct 2024 05:21:17
Yeah I'm not sure Turki will get bored as I think there his involvement is some how tied to their nations economic policy, so I imagine as long as it's successful he (and whoever succeeds him eventually) will stick around long term.

That's under the assumption I'm on the right lines with my theory.