Saudi/TKO to launch new league for up and coming boxers

[SeanBrennan]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

I know what you mean, but we're not that much better if we don't ignore the Iraq war, arming Israel to bomb civilians, etc etc. Let's not get started on America either. we're all in the gutter, as that guy once wrote. I'd never go to SA or Dubai in any case and it's messed up what they do there regarding lots of stuff - I don't think any better of that regime for helping boxing, but I have enjoyed the boxing.

Me too mate and I agree we do not live in a country on a pedestal of ethics

[Ruthless-RKO]

[golden_labrador]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

I know what you mean, but we're not that much better if we don't ignore the Iraq war, arming Israel to bomb civilians, etc etc. Let's not get started on America either. we're all in the gutter, as that guy once wrote. I'd never go to SA or Dubai in any case and it's messed up what they do there regarding lots of stuff - I don't think any better of that regime for helping boxing, but I have enjoyed the boxing.

Me too mate and I agree we do not live in a country on a pedestal of ethics

The ring is darker than it has ever been
(according to Donald McRae)

[SeanBrennan]

I know what you mean, but we're not that much better if we don't ignore the Iraq war, arming Israel to bomb civilians, etc etc. Let's not get started on America either. we're all in the gutter, as that guy once wrote. I'd never go to SA or Dubai in any case and it's messed up what they do there regarding lots of stuff - I don't think any better of that regime for helping boxing, but I have enjoyed the boxing.

Me too mate and I agree we do not live in a country on a pedestal of ethics

The ring is darker than it has ever been
(according to Donald McRae)

thank you for sharing

[SeanBrennan]

Me too mate and I agree we do not live in a country on a pedestal of ethics

The ring is darker than it has ever been
(according to Donald McRae)

thank you for sharing

Just read the article, and ordered the book, really appreciate you sharing. Dark Trade was the first boxing book I read. Happy to post on to anyone who wants to read it when I have done so.

[Cask]

"Look upon your city,enjoy the sight, for soon it shall be but rubble and bleached bones"

Caliph of Chandra threatening Caliph of Baghdad (played by white English actors) in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

Bleached bones is what is left of your enemies in the desert

[Bercli]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

The sport is already fu##Ed,has been for years. You may be too young to remember the awful televised shows of the 90's and 00's when pretty much everyone of the left hand side of the bill had their records padded out by beating obscure overseas opponents. Pretty much the only competitive fight was the main event.

[Bercli]

Will be interesting to see how well this new mob actually know boxing. As Mayweather Sr put it, most people don't know shìt about boxing, and distinguishing a good up and comer from a dud is the job of an expert.

It won't be that hard when they can literally pay anyone any amount of oil money

I agree. The Saudi's are already taking over a number of sports. It is happening slowly,but it is happening. Won't be long before a premier league game is played there imo.

[Bercli]

Apologies for late log on and responses, just finished work so having half hour on here before bed, I genuinely makes me sad about this, the 'media' are nearly almost uniformly either inhouse PR or blatant cheerleaders for this. Our last saviour was an Irish narco-terrorist and the latest is part of a regime that stones homosexuals, suppresses most basic human rights and has as much commitment to social good as Shipman had to elderly care. I never blame the boxers but all the other apparatchiks around it are scumbags.

Scumbags have always been around boxing,it is nothing new. Boxing no different to some other sports. Wherever there is easy money to be made,you will always find the scumbags and shark circling for prey. And as for the media. Unless you have worked in the sport you have no idea just how difficult it is for a good journalist to stay impartial.

[Cask]

Apologies for late log on and responses, just finished work so having half hour on here before bed, I genuinely makes me sad about this, the 'media' are nearly almost uniformly either inhouse PR or blatant cheerleaders for this. Our last saviour was an Irish narco-terrorist and the latest is part of a regime that stones homosexuals, suppresses most basic human rights and has as much commitment to social good as Shipman had to elderly care. I never blame the boxers but all the other apparatchiks around it are scumbags.

Scumbags have always been around boxing,it is nothing new. Boxing no different to some other sports. Wherever there is easy money to be made,you will always find the scumbags and shark circling for prey. And as for the media. Unless you have worked in the sport you have no idea just how difficult it is for a good journalist to stay impartial.

Boxing is different in that it is the easiest sport to make a lot of money while schmoozing with gangsters and geezers and high society in the same place, because boxing is considered the working class masculine tough guy sport, all the people who like to project power through strength get into it. MMA has now become the favourite sport of Warlords

[Cask]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

I know what you mean, but we're not that much better if we don't ignore the Iraq war, arming Israel to bomb civilians, etc etc. Let's not get started on America either. we're all in the gutter, as that guy once wrote. I'd never go to SA or Dubai in any case and it's messed up what they do there regarding lots of stuff - I don't think any better of that regime for helping boxing, but I have enjoyed the boxing.

Me too mate and I agree we do not live in a country on a pedestal of ethics

Saudis committed genocide in Yemen and were not in favour of Saddam's invasion of Kuwait in Gulf War 1 let alone Gulf War 2

[Cask]

Seriously these are gonna be the conversations we have to be having, we just got rid of the Irish heroin king, now it's head choppers. Probably cheerleaded by the same people who say they don't trust the non violent Muslim shopkeeper, but those Saudis are PAYING!!

Yeah, Oil money, Blood money, with Kinahan it was drug money and blood money, I would rather boxers DON'T earn if they agree to be pawns of these creatures

Carl Frampton can articulate himself very very well, but when he gets asked about Daniel Kinahans background it's all Aw Shucks little old me I know naffin mate, so of course he came out in complete support of the Saudis taking over boxing "as long as they pay"

It's such a reductive and shortsighted view of the world and were going from gangsters to drug cartels to terrorists.

[Cask]

Will be interesting to see how well this new mob actually know boxing. As Mayweather Sr put it, most people don't know shìt about boxing, and distinguishing a good up and comer from a dud is the job of an expert.

It won't be that hard when they can literally pay anyone any amount of oil money

I agree. The Saudi's are already taking over a number of sports. It is happening slowly,but it is happening. Won't be long before a premier league game is played there imo.

They already got the national anthem played in England!! AJs fight, What was that at Wembley was it??

[stujones]

Whilst I love a one champion per devision rule, there is nothing like a good old unification fight (even when all the belts are not on the line) . Eg Benn vs Eubank 2 when both held versions of the belt would have felt better than it being for one belt (even if it was the only belt).

A fighter gets injured then what’s happens…. It goes to a panel to decide the world champion?

Even though the fights were not great and it could be argued the best two fighters were not involved (but later had a chance)…. there was something magical about Tyson getting the three belts….we still talk about it 40 years later. I hope only having a ring belt doesn’t lose that appeal…. I’d actually hope Dana/tko could get the sanctioning bodies fully on board.

[black panther]

I know what you mean, but we're not that much better if we don't ignore the Iraq war, arming Israel to bomb civilians, etc etc. Let's not get started on America either. we're all in the gutter, as that guy once wrote. I'd never go to SA or Dubai in any case and it's messed up what they do there regarding lots of stuff - I don't think any better of that regime for helping boxing, but I have enjoyed the boxing.

Me too mate and I agree we do not live in a country on a pedestal of ethics

The ring is darker than it has ever been
(according to Donald McRae)

Thank you very much for sharing. Wish I’d kept my copy of Dark Trade. I’ll be ordering his new book; absolutely cracking writer is Donald McRae

[Ruthless-RKO]

'I felt a little offended' - Oscar De La Hoya weighs in on Turki Alalshikh-Dana White bond

LOS ANGELES – In telling Canelo Alvarez not to don the WBC belt and by aligning with Dana White as the man to take his Riyadh Season boxing to the next level, Turki Alalshikh last week made power moves toward a one-belt, one-promoter boxing landscape.

That’s not going to happen without some interference.

At Monday’s news conference in Los Angeles to hype Alalshikh’s May 2 three-fight card in New York’s Times Square, promoter and five-division boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya brought along three of his fighters and a healthy bit of defiance toward anyone who thinks he’s taking a step back.

“I did hear that [Turki] passed over the reins of boxing to Dana White. That comment to me … I felt a little offended. I’ve been in boxing all my life. I’ve been promoting for 20-some-odd years,” De La Hoya said.

De La Hoya made it clear that if White, the UFC CEO who’s now heading the boxing vertical TKO for the Endeavor Group, would rather not work with him, or if Alalshikh has other future plans that don’t include working with other promoters, he will be comfortable doing his own thing.

“So what I want to do is stay in my lane and do what I do for Golden Boy and DAZN, and give the fight fans the best fights that can possibly be made – just like we’ve been doing for years,” De La Hoya said.

“Working with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season and sprinkling these big, championship events, it’s an honor for me to do that. But I have my business that I’m going to take care of, as well.

“And nobody’s going to touch me there, because we are the best developers in the fight game and we take our fighters to championship levels and super-stardom, like we have with Canelo and Ryan Garcia.”

Garcia, a year removed from his infamous three-knockdown performance over Devin Haney in a bout later ruled a no-contest because of Garcia’s positive performance-enhancing drug tests, will return atop the Times Square card against former WBA 140lbs champion Rolando Romero.

De La Hoya also sends his former 140lbs champion Jose Ramirez against Haney on the card, and Arnold Barboza against WBO 140lbs champion Teofimo Lopez.

“All three fights have the potential to steal the show, but it’s up to the fighter. You have to fight hard, you have to fight with passion. And you have to make a statement,” De La Hoya said. “Anybody could win at any given time.”

The expectation is both Haney and Garcia will win, sending them to glamour October rematch in Saudi Arabia.

How long De La Hoya’s time with Alalshikh will remain after that is anyone’s guess.

White has spoken of forming a league of younger fighters and constructing bouts in a new broadcast deal that would help raise those fighters’ profiles and help TKO surpass the others as the most formidable promoter with the backing of the Middle East conglomerate.

“I’m gonna stick in my lane and I’m going to work with Turki Alalshikh because it has been very positive,” De La Hoya said.

“Competition in boxing is really good, but I’m going to continue to do what I do. Because boxing is what I love. Boxing is what made me, what helped me get here, and I’m never leaving.”

As for Alalshikh’s interest in downsizing the belts of the four major sanctioning bodies and playing up The Ring belt following his purchase of the magazine and website from De La Hoya late last year, many in the sport are watching, knowing that the federal Muhamnmad Ali Act forbids promoters from awarding belts.

Even though Alalshikh instructed Alvarez not to wear the WBC belt during a photo shoot at his news conference last week in New York, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman issued a statement that he’s generally appeased.

It’s worth noting Alalshikh’s backing of a grand prix event that Sulaiman is planning.

“Turki has his plans, that’s it. If Turki goes without the WBC, then that’s his event. He’s paying Canelo. He paid for Ring Magazine. He can do whatever he wants to do because it’s their event,” De La Hoya said.

“I’m sure Sulaiman didn’t take it well. I’m sure Sulaiman is thinking, ‘Wow, WBC, my father, been around forever, the fighters love the WBC … .’ Sulaiman has to be a little hurt, but I’m not sure what the relationship is or how they’re going to work it out.

“But fighters love fighting for belts. The little fighter from Rialto, California, coming up fighting for the continental, regional championship, to the fighter, that means everything. That’s the way I grew up. You grow up wanting to be a world champion – WBC, WBA, IBF. It’ll be interesting.

WBO President Gustavo Olivieri told BS recently that he’s watching to see how this plays out.

“It’s not the first time a promoter or promotional outlet or network has tried to eradicate the tiles,” Olivieri said. “Certainlly TKO/Saudis have the money, resources, network to become a player. However, we [the governing bodies] have the relationships and support from other promotional outlets.

“Also, there’s a history that simply can’t be replaced and the fighter’s heroes [Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson, Duan, Leonard, Hearns, etc.] all fought for the titles.”

[coneye]

Well I do have one question , and its this , Considering i do not buy or even read Ring Magazine , what i would like to know is , WHO DIED ? and made Ring magazine the number one belt , has far has i know and remember there were 1 , then 2 then 3 main belts , not good but heh it happenned ,, then alog came Frank and the British love affair with a couple of other belts , once again not good but its there ,

Now we have this Ring magazine rubbish , Fury used to carry on about being Ring champion , bla bla bla , but he was on the Saudi Payroll ages ago ,

So what makes the Ring Champion any better than any other , WBC have now ordered Bivol defends his , but i'm reading Tut Tut wants a 3rd with Biev , so what does he want control of the champs or a good fight ,

Once again i ask who or what , makes the ring title any more prestigous or better ,

Canelo has reportadly signed a 4 fight deal but who's he fighting , , we gonna see , in the future fights we want to see or fights King Tut Tut can get at a price Dana wnts to pay .

I don't think this is all going to work out has good has they think , Unless the real King wants to continue spending his oil money , because when the pretend King , starts using his own money , his pockets will soon get shorter , and if they want to keep getting the fights with the real elite , its gonna cost them , theres a reason Frank , Eddie and others have been bowing to a non king and calling him King , Its called DOLLARS .

[Jimmy2025]

Well I do have one question , and its this , Considering i do not buy or even read Ring Magazine , what i would like to know is , WHO DIED ? and made Ring magazine the number one belt , has far has i know and remember there were 1 , then 2 then 3 main belts , not good but heh it happenned ,, then alog came Frank and the British love affair with a couple of other belts , once again not good but its there ,

Now we have this Ring magazine rubbish , Fury used to carry on about being Ring champion , bla bla bla , but he was on the Saudi Payroll ages ago ,

So what makes the Ring Champion any better than any other , WBC have now ordered Bivol defends his , but i'm reading Tut Tut wants a 3rd with Biev , so what does he want control of the champs or a good fight ,

Once again i ask who or what , makes the ring title any more prestigous or better ,

Canelo has reportadly signed a 4 fight deal but who's he fighting , , we gonna see , in the future fights we want to see or fights King Tut Tut can get at a price Dana wnts to pay .

I don't think this is all going to work out has good has they think , Unless the real King wants to continue spending his oil money , because when the pretend King , starts using his own money , his pockets will soon get shorter , and if they want to keep getting the fights with the real elite , its gonna cost them , theres a reason Frank , Eddie and others have been bowing to a non king and calling him King , Its called DOLLARS .

Nothing makes it better in and of itself, none of the belts have intrinsic value (other than the Lonsdales with gold content). The credibility may (I think will) come because of the combination of Saudi money and White's genius. Boxing is ripe for the plucking precisely because it is so fractured. America is the most important market and the easiest sport to sell has died a death there over two decades because of the people trying to run the sport and the competition (White's MMA brand UFC).

[KiwiRider]

What Oscar doesn't seem to realize is, with Turki investing in DAZN, and terrestrial TV not showing boxing any more, if he is on the out with Turki, then "just doing his thing" basically makes him a YouTuber .
Because how else, besides ticket sales, is anyone going to watch his post Turki fight cards?
And if Turki ties up the best fighters in his new league, all Oscar is going to fill his own events with are also-rans fighting for belts made irrelevant.
And if Turki decrees that if you fight for Oscar, your banned from the league, what does Oscars have?
And this is why monopolies are not good.

[gilgamesh]

I would imagine guys contract with promoters only goes for so many fights or years or however it works in each case, so once your tour of duty is up with one promoter you can shop around for the next. I wouldn't think Boxing promoters hold a grudge over who you've fought for before, so long as you're fighting for them now.

But yeah you likely will be frozen out of the biggest fights at some point if you're not fighting for this promotion if they keep going the way they're going.

I suppose maybe one of the other promoters could corner the market on the smaller weight classes say from 130 or so on down, as the Saudi's don't seem to care a hell of a lot about those weight classes.

Will be interesting to see the impact this'll have on the sport when it starts to take shape.

[tony1234]

What happens if this turns out to be a dud ? Something happens to Turki or the Saudis don't want to bankroll him anymore ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

What happens if this turns out to be a dud ? Something happens to Turki or the Saudis don't want to bankroll him anymore ?

He might be using his own money?

He knows SGA don’t want to have Riyadh season cards outside of KSA, so he’s doing them all through the RING, which he’s funding himself.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

How embarrassing

[Ruthless-RKO]

They probably told him to say it’s fake