Eddie Hearn has done nothing to dispel speculation that the boxing landscape could soon change beyond recognition, pointing out that Saudi Arabia’s investment in the sport is not slowing down.
Reports this week suggest that the Saudi royal family intends to buy out a series of global promotional companies in order to create a novel boxing league that would be financed by the seemingly endless wealth of stations in the Persian Gulf.
Boxing has essentially been taken over by Saudi Arabia in recent years, and it’s demanding to ignore the fact that the enormous majority of large name fights have taken place there, including Tyson Fury’s historic undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk and four of Anthony Joshua’s last eight fights – including his last two fights.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund has shown in recent years that it is eager to get involved in sports, and its most celebrated shake-up in the golf world was rewarding several top players for joining the LIV Golf league. But now it has been reported by New York Times that the PIF will invest as much as £1.57 billion ($2 billion) to create a professional league run by Saudi Arabia.
This investment would mean that the Saudi wealth fund would sign 200 fighters and divide them into 12 different weight classes. The proposal, which reportedly did not receive support from the Saudi Arabian government, would be similar to the UFC’s business model, which is the gold standard in mixed martial arts.
Now Matchroom Boxing president Hearn has commented on the prospects of the Saudi league and indicated that the reports are true. I am talking with Illustrated sportsexplained: “Of course, many of these types of conversations are confidential.
“It was captivating to see various information being leaked – some true, some not. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia see many opportunities in sports. He’s got a great mind and vision of where he thinks boxing should be… I think a lot of what they’re planning is incredibly invigorating.
“Many of the issues discussed that I can’t go into deeply require a lot of work. But if anyone can achieve this, it will probably be Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia.”
Logan Paul’s boxing skills have been questioned after a video of his training was shared amid rumors he may be preparing to fight Conor McGregor. It was recently suggested that Paul and McGregor were talking about an exhibition boxing match in India hosted by the billionaire Ambani family.
The Irish player confirmed the reports on Twitter, and Paul further fueled the rumors by liking the news post and sharing clips of his training sessions.
In the eight-second video, filmed at the gym he shares with his younger brother Jake in Puerto Rico, Paul can be seen punching his arm during a seemingly delicate workout, but fans were unimpressed with his technique.
One commented: “He’s been doing this since 2017 and still doesn’t know how to throw punches correctly,” while another added: “I’ve seen guys throw better punches after one boxing session in their lives.”
Paul has yet to comment on claims that he will return to boxing to face McGregor, but he is currently under contract with WWE, where he is expected to play a larger role in 2025. However, he had already demonstrated his willingness to leave. from the company for fighting, after last year’s fight with Dillon Danis in an exhibition fight.
The world of combat sports was abuzz with speculation after a bogus account sparked rumors about a fight between Conor McGregor and Ilia Topuria. However, the story gained steam when McGregor and TheMacLife, run by respected journalist Oscar Willis, who is known to have a relationship with the Irishman, shared the news on social media.
McGregor himself clarified the situation, stating: “The rumors about the Topuria fight are false. I am making preliminary arrangements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul at a boxing event in India. I agreed. I will then strive to return to the Octagon.”
Despite this announcement, McGregor’s MMA future remains uncertain as he has not had a fight scheduled as of 2021 and had to cancel his planned match against Michael Chandler due to a toe injury he suffered earlier this year.
Lennox Lewis insists he would have beaten Oleksandr Usyk at his best.
Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lewis when he defeated Tyson Fury in May, and the Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lewis in May, and the Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lewis when he defeated the “Gypsy King” revenge in Riyad earlier this month.
Lewis avenged the only two defeats in his record and scored remarkable victories over Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko during his glittering career.
And “Lew” has no doubt that he would find a way to decipher the masterful Ukrainian.
“I would throw a good uppercut,” the 59-year-old said Fighting Hub TV.
“Because he’s vulnerable to a good uppercut and I throw an average uppercut, I’d still definitely fight that fight.
Usyk was called by Daniel Dubois for a rematch for the August 2023 fight, which “The Cat” won after a ninth-round stoppage.
A controversial fifth-round low blow formed the basis of Dubois’ argument for a rematch, and the Briton believes the victory should have been awarded to him by knockout, something he mentioned while storming the 37-year-old’s goal post-fight interview after his victory over Fury.
Lewis claims that if they had fought, he would have targeted Usyk’s body.
“Well, anyone who is sensitive to the body and anyone who says that usually goes away and works on the body,” he added.
“Let them think that I am defenseless in front of my body. I want them to think that.
“Now my body is challenging and if they hit my body, I will hit them at the same time.”
A second meeting with the 27-year-old would give Usyk a chance to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, with “Dynamite” holding the IBF title he vacated.
“Usyk, I want to take revenge,” Dubois said after Usyk’s victory over Fury.
Zhilei Zhang opened the door to a future fight with unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Zhang wants to secure a mandatory shot at Usyk’s WBC crown when he faces Agit Kabayel in the title fight interim title on February 22 in Riyadh.
Usyk defended his WBC, WBA ‘super’ and WBO belts with a unanimous decision victory over Tyson Fury in their rematch in Riyad earlier this month, and Zhang admits he is looking forward to facing the Ukrainian in what would be his maiden world title fight.
“If they want to see what it looks like, I’ll get in the ring.
“NO [we haven’t fought] even among amateurs, because we are from two different weight categories, two different divisions.
But I hope to share a professional boxing ring with him and see what happens.”
The Chinese midfielder brutally stopped a fifth-round fight against former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in June, bouncing back from his second professional loss to Joseph Parker three months earlier.
Kabayel is undefeated in 25 professional fights, coming off a seventh-round knockout of Frank Sanchez in May, and despite having a reputation as a powerful puncher, Zhang believes his skills will prove decisive.
“Power is something I try not to forget or emphasize in this training camp,” added the 41-year-old.
“Me and my coach Shaun [George] I worked at it all the time to forget about my power.
“I need this.
“It will happen, but I try to act skillfully [and] this time be better in terms of skill.
“He is adolescent, knowledgeable and hungry.
“He’s definitely making strides in trying to become one of the greats.
“If you talk about his last fight with Frank Sanchez, I think he did really well, but unfortunately I’m not Frank Sanchez and it’s tough to predict what will happen.”
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