It’s a tricky call to make. Who did it better—from curating cards to bringing in the crowd—a fighter who has turned the boxing world upside down with his unorthodox approach or a man with deep pockets passionate about restoring the sweet science to its former glory? 2024 is about to draw curtains, and it would be an understatement to say that boxing fans had some mouthwatering fights, memorable moments, and the birth of new stars. But two men are at the center of everything: Jake Paul and His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. What if you were to crown one and push the other to a consolation space on the podium? How would you do that?

The WBA turned heads when it gave its prestigious Promoter of the Year award to Jake Paul during their recent convention in Orlando. Meanwhile, the tag of ‘Boxing Man of the Year’ from the WBC went to Alalshikh during their convention in Hamburg. Well, the two awards try to acknowledge the efforts put in by individuals to make boxing a thriving sport. This time, there is a catch. You don’t associate the ‘promoters’ term with either of them. While ‘Problem Child’ is an influencer, Alalshikh is an investor in loose terms. So, the question is, who actually impacted the boxing world in an unprecedented manner this year?

Jake Paul: can’t be ignored, can’t be loved

Paul, 27, is your complex puzzle, where you find it fascinating but somehow it doesn’t make complete sense to you. The American fighter is the same. You put him into the box of a promoter, and you’ll see a different person altogether. His bigger 2024 undercards, all promoted by the MVP, had him as the face. The rest of his huge fights, prompted by the MVP, had Amanda Serrano‘s face plastered on them. If there’s one thing you want the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter to laud for, it’s his commitment to women’s boxing. Serrano, 36, emerged as the fulcrum of female boxing this year, all thanks to him. Her rematch fight with Katie Taylor became the most-watched live event in women’s boxing history, with 50 million households tuning in to watch her fight.

The second interesting thing that you could praise Paul for is his dedication to young fighters—by giving them a platform to shine and become future stars. The MVP Prospects event series is a prime example of it. You can notice the likes of ‘H2O’ Sylvia and Shadasia Green on the roaster. That’s not only it. The Cleveland native also has signed up the likes of Neeraj Goyat and ‘Wanna’ Walton, who has a fan following outside the boxing sphere. It’s the influx of casual fans that the boxing needs and Paul is himself a saleable face, along with other stars in his stable.

If you doubt that, Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry sold over 16,000 tickets, making it a sold-out event. But it was Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, which shattered many records. Almost 70,000 people flocked in to watch the fight, and the MVP racked up almost $18 million through gate revenue only. It also had the highest boxing gate outside Las Vegas. It’s all these factors that pushed Paul towards claiming the Promoter of the Year award. But if it’s the casual fans, outside-the-ring shenanigans, and top-notch marketability that you associate with the 11-1 record holder, Alalshikh is all about hardcore fans and making boxing great again.

HE Turki Alalshikh: grand fights and upholding the sanctity

It started with Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou in October 2023, and a year later, till today, the Riyadh Season has featured 67 fighters, 14 world title fights, and 2 undisputed champion crowning ceremonies. The boxing world saw it all within 12 months. The Saudi adviser’s mantra has been simple. Boxing is for fans, and the fighters should cater to their needs.

That’s the reason you saw Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk and Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol this year on Saudi soil. What’s more? The influence has reached the American and British shores, with Terence Crawford and Anthony Joshua fighting under the Riyadh Season with big fights. It’s always a mouthwatering contest with huge names. The cards organized by Alalshikh have been anything but thinly spread. In addition, you also got to watch Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5 vs. 5. That’s a dream card brought to reality by the efforts of one man alone.

If you are looking at growth, building from scratch perspective, and the monumental impact this year, the case is strong for Paul. But if only look at this year and how many exciting cards and big and historic cards that Alalshikh pulled, he has the edge. However, if Paul’s Achilles heel is his lack of credibility, not-so-mainstream faces, and predictable results, Alalshikh’s marketing has its glaring flaws.

Both represent two contrasting approaches as promoters, where one’s strength is another’s weakness and vice versa. But if you are a boxing fan who just wants the best to fight the best, Alalshikh is your go-to pick. Meanwhile, if you are a casual viewer who wants to dip their toes into boxing, then Paul is whom you should follow. And therein lies the difference.

What do you think of Jake Paul and HE Turki Alalshikh’s influence on the boxing world? Who do you think had a bigger impact this year? Let us know in the comments below.