His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has definitely made a huge impact on the sport of boxing, putting together some of the greatest fights during his short time in the sport. So, in his honor and the work that he has done for boxing, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has awarded the man from the land of sand and oil ‘Boxing Man of the Year.’

This announcement comes from Hamburg, Germany, where the WBC hosted its 62nd annual World Boxing Council Convention. While the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has made efforts to expand the country’s presence in various sports, his impact on boxing—long plagued by disorganization and stagnation—has been hailed as nothing short of transformative, with some even dubbing him a savior for the sport.

Boxing, plagued by numerous governing bodies and multiple champions holding various belts, has long made identifying a clear champion a challenge for fans. Despite this fragmented landscape, the Saudi Royal successfully united the sport’s biggest names to orchestrate some of the most significant fights imaginable. Remarkably, 2024 witnessed the crowning of two undisputed champions—a feat that once seemed nearly impossible in the sport’s modern era.

In May, Alalshikh managed to put together the undisputed heavyweight clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, which gave boxing its first undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Then in October, Riyadh Season, led by the man of the hour, produced the undisputed light heavyweight matchup. 

Artur Beterbiev defeated Dmitry Bivol to become the first undisputed light heavyweight champion since Roy Jones Jr. in 1999. What’s even more remarkable is that a rematch between the two is already in the works for the coming months—a development that might never have materialized without the influence and support of the Saudi Royal.

To top it all off, the fights organized by the Middle Eastern nation have been widely praised for their superior quality, surpassing the expectations set by promoters in the United States. This has significantly contributed to Alalshikh’s growing success. Furthermore, Alalshikh is also making a name for himself in MMA, following the UFC’s involvement with the country earlier this year.

There have also been discussions about Saudi Arabia uniting major boxing promotions to establish a unified boxing league, potentially eliminating the confusion caused by unnecessary sanctioning bodies and mirroring the structure of the UFC in MMA. Regardless of these plans, Alalshikh’s impressive list of accomplishments earned him recognition from the WBC, which honored him with an award on Monday.

In a statement shared since receiving the award, His Excellency has shared his vision for boxing in the coming years. “I would like to thank the World Boxing Council (WBC) for awarding me the Boxing Man of the Year,” he wrote on Instagram. “We will continue supporting the sport of boxing, striving to elevate it to its golden era by delivering the strongest and most exciting fights to the fans.”

He then proceeded to credit the award to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, claiming nothing would have been possible without him. “I dedicate this award to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose unwavering support has placed Saudi Arabia among the leading nations of the world and enabled us to deliver world-class events with the highest standards.”

Meanwhile, when receiving the award in Hamburg, Germany, Alalshikh roped in former world champion Wladimir Klitschko. 

Turki Alalshikh urges Wladimir Klitschko to fight again

Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and one of boxing’s most influential figures, has called for Wladimir Klitschko to return to the ring. Speaking at the WBC convention in Hamburg, where he was named 2024’s Man of the Year, Alalshikh made a direct appeal to the former heavyweight champion.

“I see Klitschko is here from [his] great country, and I want to ask him a favor. We want to see you one more time in the ring trying to get the chance to have the world championship belt again,” he said. “Let’s see the result of Tyson and Usyk, let’s see the result of Dubois [and Parker]. And I ask the WBC, IBF, WBA, and WBO to give you a chance to get this dream.”

The 48-year-old Klitschko, who retired in 2017, smiled as the ambitious plans were laid out.

That said, the WBC seems to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh to the sport of boxing. His statement makes it clear that his efforts to elevate the sport are far from over. Could we ever see a utopian vision of boxing realized?