The first press conference before the heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou in London is a show of force by the Saudis. The kingdom’s “entertainment representative” is already pointing the way to the next mega event.
Whoever pays, creates. A truism in prize boxing. One that Saudi Arabia is currently displaying impressively and powerfully in heavyweight boxing.
In the first PK before the fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou on March 8 in Riyadh, “His Excellency” Turki Al-Sheikh did so. The 42-year-old is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s entertainment minister in the Al-Saud empire – responsible for the “bread and circus games” area.
Thanks to their bulging sovereign wealth fund, the Saudis have been putting on boxing events since the beginning of their “Riyadh Season” that have not been seen in the heavyweight division for a long time. Even the once “enemy” British promoter greats Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn suddenly shake each other’s hands in a good mood and work well together on behalf of “His Excellency”.
The (Pedro) dollar still manages to bring even its biggest rivals to the table.
This was already visible shortly before Christmas, when six heavyweight duels took place in Riyadh. In addition to Joshua (who won) and US star Deontay Wilder (who lost), German hopeful Agit Kabayel also boxed in the desert. The “boy from the pot” crushed the heavily hyped Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov in the Kingdom Arena.
In February the boxing circus in Saudi Arabia reaches its peak. The undefeated world champions Tyson Fury (WBC) and Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBO, IBF) will meet on February 17th in the “Ring of Fire” – that is the fight motto. For the first time since the great Lennox Lewis more than 20 years ago, there will be an Undisputed Champion, an undisputed champion of all boxing classes.
Boxing: Rivals suddenly become partners
In the opening act, Australian Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis from Latvia fight for the cruiserweight world championship. A duel that would be a main fight anywhere else in the world, but for the Saudis it is good enough as an appetizer for the big thing. The same applies to March 8th, when Joseph Parker from New Zealand and the Chinese Zhang Zhilei play the hot spots for Joshua and Ngannou.
Joshua, promoted by Hearn, and ex-cage fighter Ngannou, who is under contract with Warren, will then mark the end of the “Riyadh season” before Ramadan hits the pause button. Ngannou, a former champion of the UFC MMA series, is fighting in only his second professional fight as a boxer. He lost his debut – at the “season opener” – by a narrow margin to Fury on points, but earned a lot of money. According to media reports, the Cameroonian will receive $20 million for the fight against Joshua. The Brit will receive $50 million.
Who, when, where and against whom will fight – in the future it will no longer be determined by promoters like Warren or Hearn. Nor the influential TV stations in the USA and England. In the future, “His Excellency” will be in charge. In any case, Al-Sheikh already made it clear in London how things should proceed.
First he “ordered” in a patronizing manner that Hearn and Warren should please select five of their top fighters and let them go at each other, which they were immediately delighted to do.
Then Al-Sheikh presented a (chunky) “WUHC” (World Undisputed Heavyweight Champion) belt for the winner of the duel between Fury and Usyk and set the direction for the boxing year 2024: “This is waiting for the winner on the 8th. March.” Means: Joshua or Ngannou will challenge the newly crowned ruler. The next mega event in the Gulf.
Fury and Usyk have already contractually agreed on a direct revenge for the period after February 17th. But: If Al-Sheik and Co. want to see another fight first, Papier is patient.
Agit Kabayel has to be patient despite his good position
With their dollar bazooka, the Saudis are overriding certain boxing laws. Until now, unification fights between the world champions of the competing associations, between rival promoters and television broadcasters were rare because they were difficult to negotiate and implement. Al-Sheikh negates all of this and fills up all the ditches with his seemingly endless flow of money.
The Saudis are only interested in the big show, the sporting gloss for their country. And because there is enough waste for everyone, everyone takes part: associations, promoters, boxers, TV producers. The light heavyweight division provides the next example: In June, world champions Artur Beterbiev (WBC, WBO, IBF, contract with promoter Bob Arum and ESPN) and Dmitry Bivol (WBA, affiliated with Hearn and DAZN) will be the only true champion, just like Fury and Usyk identify in their class. Where? Is clear.
Because such big fights are finally taking place, potential challengers, who used to often quickly get a chance for the title in the associations’ scheming, have to be patient. This also applies to Agit Kabayel. The WBC has already placed the German in fourth place in its world rankings.
But: It is unlikely that Kabayel will get a World Cup chance against him any time soon. First up are Fury, Usyk, Joshua, Ngannou.
The 31-year-old has no need to worry. You can also earn good money in the supporting program with big names – and build star status. Kabayel already got a taste of this in December.
Martin Armbruster