Saudi Arabia is slowly entering the sports business by organizing some of the biggest sporting events in the world. To their credit, they do it exceptionally well. Boxing is one of the sports that they are focusing on. The biggest fight of the year, Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury’s match for the undisputed heavyweight title took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia just last month. There were other boxing events as well that were organized in the country, including the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5 vs 5 card. The growing influence of Saudi Arabia has led to another new development in boxing. 

Saudi Arabia is planning a major shakeup in the world of boxing with a proposed new league. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia is reportedly in talks with major boxing stakeholders to create this league. The project could be valued between a whopping $4-5 billion. The aim is to create a unified structure within boxing that brings together fighters, promoters, broadcasters, and even sanctioning bodies. With the power and the financial power to back up their word, the project is said to kick off sometime next year. However, WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is not a fan of this new project it seems.

Tank isn’t too crazy about it

Gervonta Davis is one of the few top boxers of this generation who have yet to fight in Saudi Arabia. And from what he has said on the issue earlier, he is not that eager to fight there either. ‘Tank’ recently came off a stunning victory against Frank Martin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Following that, when he was asked about Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Davis stated, “If he feel like he got the power coz he got the cash, so its like let me sh*t on everybody else.” When the reporter then asked him about the new league under development, he added, “It’s somewhat good I would say for the sport, but I don’t know. So you want to kick everybody out! All the promoters! That’s crazy.”

Boxing has a history where the fights are organized by promoters and not by a single entity. A unified boxing league would surely change the course of the sport. However, it may also eat up promoters’ jobs. As a result, Davis is definitely accepting the development with open arms. Interestingly, there is also another reason for Gervonta Davis to be mad at His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. Something else also occurred in the near past, which increased the rift if there existed none before. 

His Excellency slaps back at Gervonta Davis for demanding Ferraris

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has been at the forefront of organizing boxing events in Saudi Arabia. He indicated that he wanted to set up Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney for a fight in his own homeland. Following this, ‘Tank’ took to X and wrote, “If they want me they gotta send me something… like 2 Ferraris”.

Maybe, His Excellency did not like the boxer’s remarks and responded on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour show with, “I heard (what) Davis said… I say to him: we will send you two gloves if you want, that’s it!” Davis did not like the comment and posted a few remarks of his own that he doesn’t need Saudi Arabia to sell fights.

Well, Saudi Arabia is actually good at orchestrating big boxing events. With a popular and talented boxer like Davis, it would have been a treat for fans to see him fight in the country. Let’s hope that it does happen in the future. Meanwhile, what are your views about Saudi Arabia bringing in a whole new boxing league? Do you think it’s a good move? Share your thoughts in the comments below.