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Turki Alalshikh takes Golden Boy and Top Rank, PBC goes

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Turki Alalshikh Riyadh Season Golden Boy Top Rank

Turki Alalshikh has signed partnerships with Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, leaving only Premier Boxing Champions left of the gigantic five.

Globally, Golden Boy, Top Rank, Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions are the top promotional quintet alongside Al Haymon’s PBC. Alalshikh already has ongoing deals with Eddie Hearn [Matchroom] and Frank Warren [Queensberry]. This partnership resulted in several cross-promotional fights, much to the delight of boxing fans.

Alalshikh and his Riyadh Season movement took over Golden Boy and Top Rank to add even more solidarity to the sport. These deals mean fans can expect fighters from all stables to compete without any formalities, which Alalshikh has now halved.

Announcing his unusual move to the market, Alalshikh issued a statement regarding both partnerships via Riyadh Season.

“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of the General Entertainment Authority, today announced the official partnership between Riyadh Season and Top Rank to further promote world-class boxing events around the world.

“The partnership will leverage the strength and reach of both organizations to elevate the sport. Riyadh Season will be on many top bills in the build-up and fight night phases.
Riyadh Season will sponsor 12 Top Rank events selected by the promoter until the end of this year and in 2025.

“Top Rank is one of the most iconic promoters in the boxing industry, with over 50 years of staging prestigious events at historic venues around the world, featuring some of the greatest boxing champions of all time, including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.

“Over the past 12 months, Riyadh Season has established itself as a key player in boxing, staging a string of world-class and creative events, including the first undisputed heavyweight title fight of the 21st century between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. It will now look to expand its reach into the US market by staging its first overseas event on August 3rd when Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov go head-to-head for the WBA and WBO Interim World Super Welterweight titles at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.”

Regarding the Golden Boy deal, World Boxing News received a similar announcement despite CEO Oscar De La Hoya previously opposing any future arrangement.

“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of the General Entertainment Authority, announced a partnership between Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions aimed at strengthening the promotion of major boxing events around the world.

“The cooperation of both organizations will begin with a fight for the interim WBC super welterweight title between the current interim champion Serhiy Bohachuk [24-1, 23 KOs] and undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. [21-0, 21 KOs] on Saturday, August 10 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

“This agreement reaffirms the commitment of Golden Boy and Riyadh Season to elevate the sport of boxing by leveraging the strengths of both entities.

“The Riyadh season last year saw a series of world-class and creative events, including the first undisputed heavyweight title fight of the 21st century between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury,

“Now he will look to expand his reach into the U.S. market by hosting his first event abroad on August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, headlined by a blockbuster world title fight between Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov for the WBA and WBO Interim World Super Welterweight titles. The main event will also feature a performance by legendary hip-hop singer Eminem. The official link to purchase tickets can be found on Ticketmaster by clicking here.

“Golden Boy, led by legendary boxer Oscar De La Hoya, is the first Latino-owned boxing promotion and continues to execute on its expansion plans through 2024 and beyond, already establishing itself as an industry leader in the sport with a long list of world champions.”

The Crawford vs. Madrimov fight becomes even more significant for Alalshikh with less than two weeks left until the first gong to open the season in Riyadh for the American Dream.

As previously reported by WBN, ticket sales were not super brisk, but considering that Alalshikh has intensified promotion of the show, as well as the performance of rap star Eminem, a sell-out can be expected.

Saudi Arabia currently dominates the boxing landscape and has a significant amount of power over what fights will be held in the future. The only question is whether Al Haymon will sign a deal with his company PBC and become a part of it, which would give Alalshikh and his movement a full house.

Second-tier promotions such as Mayweather Promotions, BOXXER and Salita Promotions could become targets for future takeovers by Middle Eastern investors.

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Boxing

Tyson’s conqueror, Danny Williams, was “never considered” for Morrison

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Kenzie Morrison Danny Williams

World Boxing News has learned that Danny Williams was never considered for a fight against Tommy Morrison’s son Kenzie on November 9.

WBN has learned from a source that Williams was scheduled to face Morrison next month when he returns to action at Firelake Arena in Shawnee. However, promoter Tony Holden confirmed what WBN initially reported, namely that Williams had been offered for the fight.

BoxRec also briefly placed Williams within Morrison’s record on November 9, before removing the former British champion. Williams famously knocked out Mike Tyson in 2004, but has since lived off his victory despite losing his British license more than a decade ago.

Holden, who represents Morrison and is looking for an opponent for the competition in three weeks, explained the situation exclusively to WBN.

“I never confirmed William’s story and I never considered him,” Holden said. “I said no when a local promoter suggested it.”

Williams, 51, last fought in August 202, losing for the 33rd time in his career. With 88 professional fights under his belt, Williams seems unable to turn down a payday despite his advanced age.

Morrison, a power puncher who has stopped 19 of his 21 wins, will look for his next conquest elsewhere. The fight with Mike Balogun remains on the table for 2025 after it was postponed from its original October date.

Balogun, who knocked out Kenzi’s brother Trey in the first round, claimed Morrison was pulled from the fight to spare him the loss.

Holden denies this view.

“Even though this post isn’t up to my standards, I’m going to write it anyway. Mike Balogun falsely claimed that I pulled Kenzie Morrison out of the fight because I was afraid he would lose. Please allow me to correct you, Mr. Balogun,” he stated.

“The decision was not made by Kenzie. Let’s raise the stakes and make it fascinating. If you emerge victorious this month, Kenzie will fight in November.

“We may decide this early next year. If your confidence remains unshaken, we can place a significant bet. Watch Kenzie take revenge on her brother and end your career.

Balogun, a former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, responded to Holden by increasing his salary for a potential collision next year.

“No matter how fair and honorable your decision was, just remember that ‘yesterday’s price is not today’s price,’” said the 2010 undrafted pick.

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Andrew Moloney is confident that if given the chance, he would have beaten Phumelele Cafu and Kosei Tanaka

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Andrew Moloney (left) attacks Pedro Guevara – photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Few people were more disappointed than Andrew Moloney when Kosei Tanaka lost his WBO super flyweight belt to Phumelele Cafu at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Monday night.

The 33-year-old Australian veteran was hoping to get a shot at beating Tanaka in the lucrative Japanese market.

Those dreams were dashed when South Africa’s Cafu delivered the performance of his life, knocking out Tanaka in the fifth round and finishing the fight strongly, beating the four-weight world champion by split decision.

“The plan was to target the WBO and really chase the Tanaka fight, but it all fell apart on Monday night,” Moloney (26-4-1NC, 16 KO) told The Ring. “I think the WBO is probably still the direction we go, but I’m not sure if they have a rematch clause or if Tanaka will take it. But after watching the fight yesterday, I would be really confident that I could fight one of these guys and win. We would like to follow this path.

“I would love to fight Tanaka in Japan as a four-division world champion. He’s definitely someone I’ve looked up to and wanted to fight for a long time.

“Last night was a little hard to watch. The way he performed, I’m more confident than ever that I have what it takes to beat Tanaka.

I assume there will be a rematch and I hope that Tanaka will regain the belt and I will be able to return to the ring and climb the rankings, and maybe this fight will still happen.

Tanaka entered Moloney’s orbit four years ago when he debuted at 115 pounds. Earlier this year, it looked like they were also on a collision course, with Moloney being number one in the WBO rankings. However, when an offer was made for the vacant IBF lightweight title fight between Vasily Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. in May in Perth, Western Australia, Moloney felt he couldn’t turn her down.

This decision ended in disaster. Moloney faced Carlos Cuadras, who withdrew from the fight with a ruptured Achilles tendon and was replaced by Pedro Guevara. Moloney entered the fight with a torn bicep and was largely reduced to boxing with one hand, which circumscribed his punching power.

Still, Moloney felt he did more than enough to win, and was shocked when Guevara was declared the winner by split decision. He was so disappointed that he announced immediately after the fight that he was leaving the ring, but a few days later he withdrew these comments.

It was a breakthrough moment in his career.

“Looking back, it’s a wonderful thing, but watching the Tanaka-Cafu fight made me think that maybe I would do a lot of things if I could turn back time a little bit,” Moloney explained.

“Before my last fight, I was number one in the WBO rankings and I rejected the option of waiting to fight Tanaka. But the opportunity arose to fight Guevara in Australia for the interim WBC title on a major card, and to be candid, I kind of regretted that the Tanaka fight was hanging in the balance, but ultimately we decided to stay busy and take the opportunity to fight in Australia.

“Also, the injury before the fight was another thing I thought about: will I undergo surgery, keep the top spot and wait for Tanaka, but I made the decision to go ahead with the fight with Guevara. Looking back now, maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. And looking at the way Tanaka fought last night, I thought maybe I should have waited. I’m sure I could beat Tanaka and take the belt away from him.

“So I take some consolation, but unfortunately you can’t turn back time.”

It’s been a frustrating year for Moloney, but he’s still hitting the gym and his team is working to get him another fight. The window of opportunity to box again this year is closing quickly, but he still hopes to return to the ring in December, most likely in his native Australia.

“I really hope so,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been working on. I have been training strenuous at the gym for some time, quite a few months. I hope to return before the end of the year.

“At this stage it will probably be December. I’m trying to block something, but so far no luck. I’m still training away as if the fight was to take place in December, the team is currently working on it and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll be able to finish it.

“I just hope we can get out before the end of the year, get back into the winner’s circle and start climbing the rankings again.”

Moloney, who fought at bantamweight for the first three years of his professional career before dropping down to super flyweight, surprisingly, said he would even consider moving up to another weight class given the right opportunity.

“It’s a tough time in the super flyweight division,” said Moloney, the eighth challenger to The Ring’s 115-pound title. “There’s a lot going on and it’s always strenuous to plan which route to take because everything changes so quickly. I’d pick Bam Rodriguez to beat Guevara, then there’s talk of a rematch between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez on Up-to-date Year’s Eve. And then there’s talk of Bama, if they win, fighting the winner of that game in unification. The WBO seems to me the fastest way to win the title, so that’s the path we will follow.

“We have also rejected for some time the idea of ​​moving up to flyweight and getting crack there. There’s also some engaging scene going on there right now, but it’s still uncertain. I’d probably feel a little better at super flyweight, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Cafu and Tanaka, but like I said, I’d feel comfortable and confident against either of them, so hopefully he can make it it will happen sooner rather than later.”

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Doubts that fuel 19-year-old Benjamin Johnson

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Despite an impressive amateur resume, welterweight Benjamin Johnson of Springdale, Maryland, enters the professional ring with a shoulder injury.

Johnson will face Kevin Pantoja in a four-round fight at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Maryland, promoted by his trainer Lamont Roach Snr’s NoXcuses Promotions. The fight will be broadcast on Saturday on ProBox TV.

Johnson, 1-0 (1 KO), spent just 2:23 in the ring in his professional debut, displaying the quick, aggressive hands that won him multiple national titles. However, 19-year-old Johnson feels an advantage, believing he is being overlooked by his NoXcuses Boxing Gym teammates.

Pantoja, 1-1, 27, has never stopped being a professional – Johnson aims to change that.

“People underestimate me,” Johnson said. “It’s been like that since I was an amateur.”

He added that this underestimation increases his motivation in the gym. Johnson is determined to prove his worth not only to himself, but also to those who doubt him or, worse, don’t recognize him. “I never felt like I was recognized as that guy, so I feel like I’m underappreciated,” Johnson said of his amateur and now professional career.

Johnson sees the fight as a key step in his career, compared to feared forward David Benavidez by some teammates and touted by others as one of the most ready-to-fight prospects in the country.

“I train as much as I can,” Johnson said. “It’s about making a statement. The way you win shows people what you’re capable of, and I’m ready to show my best.

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