Tonight, the stars aren’t just in the ring—the ringside is glittering with some of the biggest names in sports. However, one name captured public attention even before he arrived at the venue. If you’ve been following boxing events in Saudi Arabia over the past year, you’d know that Cristiano Ronaldo has become a familiar presence.

The highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is no exception. Hours before the event kicked off, Sky Sports shared a clip from the Kingdom Arena, highlighting the special seating arrangement prepared for the football icon. But while Ronaldo received the royal treatment, his VIP status hasn’t exactly gone unnoticed—or uncriticized—by the boxing world.

What are the arrangements for Cristiano Ronaldo?

Hours earlier, Sky Sports announced, ‘Cristiano Ronaldo will be in attendance for FIGHT NIGHT!’ alongside a clip showcasing a special seating arrangement—an oversized plush luxury chair reserved for Ronaldo marked ‘CR7’ next to a standard normal-looking seat, presumably for his wife.

Since signing with Saudi Arabia’s football league in 2023, Ronaldo has become a regular at Riyadh Season’s boxing events. He was in attendance for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk last year, though no special accommodations were made for him at the time. However, this time it was different.

Interestingly, Ronaldo was also spotted ringside with Conor McGregor during the Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin fight in December 2023, where a clip of their awkward conversation quickly went viral. Now, with the extravagant arrangements made for Ronaldo at the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch, fans haven’t held back their criticism.

Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol overlooked by fans

Cristiano Ronaldo has millions of fans across the globe, but none of them seems to have come to his rescue. One user branded the special arrangement as “Wee bit Embarrassing, to be honest.” It’s likely that the organizers made the arrangement to make Ronaldo feel at home since boxing is not really his game. 

Another user roped in former UFC champion Conor McGregor. “As far away from McGregor as possible 😂,” the user wrote. However, the two had met before their now-viral encounter—and with both being frequent guests at high-profile events, they’re likely to cross paths many more times.

The next user criticized the arrangement, pointing out that Ronaldo’s wife wasn’t given the same luxurious seat. “So can we assume the basic seat with his name on it is for his wife whilst he sits on that?” the user wrote. It’s currently unclear why exactly Ronaldo was given the special treatment. 

Meanwhile, the next user had his credit card ready. “Will this go on the marketplace after the fight? 😂,” the user asked. Only time will tell whether that is even a possibility. 

Someone else speculated Ronaldo may have spent some extra on the special seat. “Bro bought the premium pass,” the user joked. However, why would he buy a special seat for himself and not his wife—not like he doesn’t have the dough.

That said, it appears the special treatment given to Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t seem to have sat well with the boxing world. Regardless, what are your thoughts on the matter?