The Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, has confirmed that he no longer will work with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn from Matchroom.
This comes at the backdrop of a terrible year in Saudi boxing where catastrophic 15 heavy losses have put into question the prospects of boxing in kingdom.
Honestly, the year 2024 has been so unkind to Saudi boxing mostly Hearn managed boxers ended on the receiving end of shocking moments that have left the fans and investors in disbelieve.
The defeats, involving difficult wins and dubious refereeing decisions, have raised questions regarding the preparation methods and the battle plans of Hearn and the rest of the promotional team.
Alalshikh whose vision and goal is to transform Saudi Arabia into the international sporting and entertainment destination of choice has played a major role in the organising of major boxing events in the kingdom.
But these defeats put a dark veil on these progress had called into question the partnerships and the strategies envisaged to revitalise the sport.
In a press release, Alalshikh voiced his frustration at the latest performances of the fighters who signed with Hearn.
“I do appreciate what Eddie has been doing for our boxing efforts but the statistics do not lie.” Alalshikh said.
“We should serve the purpose of the triumph of the athletes,and creation of a favorable image of boxing in Saudi Arabia. It is high time for a change,” he added.
Even though the board’s decision to sever ties with Hearn is unexpected, industry insiders are not surprised since tension and expectation have been building up over Alalshikh and Hearn.
The connection that was once thought to herald the revolution of Saudi Arabian boxing now looks like has stagnated.
The ending of this relationship is raising a lot of issues with regards to the further evolution of boxing business in Saudi Arabia.
