The growth of boxing in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. With its breakthrough in the Middle East, boxing is generating more revenue than ever before. Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the sport has generated new fans and sponsorships and pushed it to reach new peaks. A lot of the credit goes to his excellency Turki Alalshikh, advisor at the royal court.
Many have appreciated his dynamic support of the sport. Of the many, one is none other than Tony Bellew. The retired boxer has held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2016 to 2017. So it is needless to say that he knows more than a thing or two about boxing. He took to social media platform X, to appreciate his excellency. Let us find out what he had to say.
Tony Bellew credits Turki Alalshikh for the big fights
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Alalshikh helped host Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury, which was one of the biggest events of the year. He is now hosting Anthony Joshua vs Ngannou. Following this, Bellew wrote, “The difference Turki Alalshikh has made in boxing has been remarkable!” appreciating his excellency. He further wrote, “We had so many years of big fights falling by the wayside that it was making our amazing sport a laughing stock!” talking about how many great anticipated fights were not successfully converted into an actual bout until Alalshikh came about. Bellew said, “He has quite simply restored boxing back to where it should be.”
The difference @Turki_alalshikh has made in boxing has been remarkable! We had so many years of big fights falling by the wayside that it was making our amazing sport a laughing stock! He has quite simply restored boxing back to where it should be. 👏 pic.twitter.com/TxmnZ1UQax
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) February 22, 2024
Alalshikh now wants to make the winner of Joshua vs Ngannou face the winner of Fury vs Oleksandr. With these huge matchups getting turned into reality, Saudi Arabia is turning into the main hub for boxing. While Alalshikh has been looking keenly into boxing, it seems the same cannot be said for his health. Alalshikh’s health has been one of the many reasons for him creating these big matchups, let us find out how.
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Turki Alalshikh’s deteriorating health becomes the reason for his dedication
Alalshikh is currently the most prominent broker in boxing. In an interview with DAZN’s Ade Oladipo, the 42-year-old Alalshikh revealed that he organized so many well-known bouts in a brief amount of time for a very personal purpose. He said, “I like it for my country and for the trust of my king, God bless him, and the trust of the crown prince for me. And I even have a personal situation and reason. I have a lot of health issues in the last five years, maybe. And this has me wanting to do everything and to see it in my life.”
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Alalshikh didn’t provide information on his deteriorating health, but his remarks may have explained why he insisted on staging big fights. Due to Alalshikh’s extraordinary spending binge, Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, two fierce competitors in the British promotional scene, have reconciled, and veteran promoter Bob Arum, 92, now refers to a man who is less than half his age as “his excellency.”
How big do you think Turki Alalshikh’s impact has been on boxing? Do you agree with Tony Bellew? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.