Saudi Sellout - was it worth it?

[WestEndRiot]

Like most people, I was delighted with the Saudi takeover (putting moral and ethical concerns aside), which meant bonanza bills with 6 or 7 fights which could be headliners in their own right, promotors putting their differences aside, and all the big fights being made with minimal fuss.

However, in what is traditionally a busy time for British boxing, this year the best the big 3 could come up with are substandard headliners like Catterall vs Prograis, Azim vs Davies and Ball vs Rios. All accompanied by awful undercards.

And the cards on the horizon are no better, including the fraudulently named 'magnificent 7'.

All 3 promotors have enough talent to put on quality shows, but it appears they are saving their best for when Turki clicks his fingers.

So, was it worth it?

[handsofstone]

I know I'm in the minority here but I personally don't care too much of the fights in UK, Saudi or wherever purely because I'll never attend a pro boxing show again unless it was in my own city or the tickets fell on my lap, I much prefer on TV, my preference is all down to what time the shows on and seeing as the Saudi's are UK time then it'll do for me, sure the crowds as silent but so are the Japanese yet you never hear anyone moaning there


As for the fights, Usyk/Fury, Beterbiev/Bivol, 5v5, Frank and Eddie, the good far outweighs the bad, someone had to pull the sport out the doldrums, long may it continue

[keithmoonhangover]

substandard headliners like Catterall vs Prograis,

Two contenders fighting each other is substandard? I think your standards are too high.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I mean.. AJ-Dubois took place in UK.

I also don’t really care where the fights are held. Saudi cards mean UK prime time and I’ve stopped attending events as well. Just prefer to watch them on telly, have a little chat on here and then go sleep.

[Frostieballs]

We won’t know for a few years!

Could transform the sport and bring it all under one house (see what I did there)!

Could pull the plug in 2-3 years after everyone has thrown their lot in - and leave the sport with a reduced grassroots.

[mickey1975]

substandard headliners like Catterall vs Prograis,

Two contenders fighting each other is substandard? I think your standards are too high.

That was a good uk card.

[mickey1975]

It's been brilliant. Fury v Usyk, Beterbiev v Bivol were a dream come true for fight fans.

[keithmoonhangover]

It's been brilliant. Fury v Usyk, Beterbiev v Bivol were a dream come true for fight fans.

Definitely.

[cormack]

make hay whilst the sun shines

[Ruthless-RKO]

What if it was an Australian billionaire with endless money? Or an African, or Canadian.

Would be call it Canadian sell out?

Is the issue with people against it, just Cus he’s Arab/Saudi?

It’s been a great 12 months of boxing. Long may it continue for however long it does.

[Coco]

It's been brilliant. Fury v Usyk, Beterbiev v Bivol were a dream come true for fight fans.

[WestEndRiot]

substandard headliners like Catterall vs Prograis,

Two contenders fighting each other is substandard? I think your standards are too high.

That was a good uk card.

I have to disagree. I'm a huge Prograis fan, but the Haney fight showed how shot he is. It was never an intriguing match up for me.

Yes, Hatton was in a good scrap, but without his surname that fight would belong on a small hall show.

I suppose the question is more pertinent for fight-going fans, as I definitely feel they've suffered.

[mickey1975]

Two contenders fighting each other is substandard? I think your standards are too high.

That was a good uk card.

I have to disagree. I'm a huge Prograis fan, but the Haney fight showed how shot he is. It was never an intriguing match up for me.

Yes, Hatton was in a good scrap, but without his surname that fight would belong on a small hall show.

I suppose the question is more pertinent for fight-going fans, as I definitely feel they've suffered.

I'm definitely a fight going fan!

[tony1234]

Money talks, at least we're getting some decent fights and I'd rather have one mega bill every 6 weeks than a load of dross from Boxxer on SKY or from Frank on TNT

[The Gratest]

It's been brilliant. Fury v Usyk, Beterbiev v Bivol were a dream come true for fight fans.

Definitely.

+1 other

[keithmoonhangover]

It's been brilliant. Fury v Usyk, Beterbiev v Bivol were a dream come true for fight fans.

Definitely.

+1 other

You're not just 1 other, you're Grat.

[The Gratest]

Definitely.

+1 other

You're not just 1 other, you're Grat.

Cheers Keith, not sure all would agree!

[forcefraser]

I have no moral or ethical concerns whatsoever about the Saudis. The west are in no position to judge anyone, the amount of shat they get up to.

We have hass cards and fights that we would not have had without the Saudi involvement, so I'm all for it

It does seem to have spelled the end of March room in the UK however. Hearn has given up

[keithmoonhangover]

Hearn has given up

[coneye]

Other option . Franks TBA cards or Hearn Backing the likes off Benn fighting underweight , pensioners , and telling us its competetive . Hail King Tut TUT

[Alba]

What if it was an Australian billionaire with endless money? Or an African, or Canadian.

Would be call it Canadian sell out?

Is the issue with people against it, just Cus he’s Arab/Saudi?

It’s been a great 12 months of boxing. Long may it continue for however long it does.

Aye, cause none of the other countries you mention treat women like second class citizens, or murder journalists

[Ruthless-RKO]

What if it was an Australian billionaire with endless money? Or an African, or Canadian.

Would be call it Canadian sell out?

Is the issue with people against it, just Cus he’s Arab/Saudi?

It’s been a great 12 months of boxing. Long may it continue for however long it does.

Aye, cause none of the other countries you mention treat women like second class citizens, or murder journalists

Sure. Journalists only get killed in Saudi.

woman are gaining more rights each year aren’t they?

[forcefraser]

What if it was an Australian billionaire with endless money? Or an African, or Canadian.

Would be call it Canadian sell out?

Is the issue with people against it, just Cus he’s Arab/Saudi?

It’s been a great 12 months of boxing. Long may it continue for however long it does.

Aye, cause none of the other countries you mention treat women like second class citizens, or murder journalists

Not strictly true. I was playing Golf once at a course in Queensland. In the clubhouse they had a lounge with a sign above the door that read " No dogs or women allowed"

The Saudis just need time. Women have been the rubbing rags of all societies at some point. It's not an exclusively Saudi thing. Check out the history of the states or South Africa, or Belgium.

The Saudi are no worse than any of these

[Coco]

Saudi women are allowed to drive now too

Also I was watching the Arab love is blind the other night, and some of their birds are just downright slutty

[HomicideHenry]

For me Dubai is an illusion. Go outside the city and you'll find excess poverty and squalor, and double standards of living as opposed to how people in Dubai live. Well, at least the rich ones. People still get arrested by the morality police in Dubai. It's not Disneyland but people pretend it is. Saudi Arabia is still a dangerous country, and I'll never not believe they don't have a stake in terrorist activities.

It is a shame that European and American promoters were completely incapable (unwilling is more apt) to make the fights we wanted to see because they either stuck to stone age methods of drumming up interest, or they simply didn't want to part with millions of dollars even though they'd of made millions regardless. Greed killed American and European boxing. Not so much from the fighters, but from everyone else in the boxing business.

If Covid-19 demonstrated anything, people would watch fights even if they were staged in people's backyards. If an idiot like Jake Paul could figure out how to have the biggest fight of all (via Netflix viewership) then what the hell is any one paying these promoters for? Fighters need to start making themselves brands. No need for a promoter for everything if you yourself are essentially challenging the world. People will come and pay regardless.

America and Europe need to get their act together.

Jesus Christ Almighty God bless you all