The events of the RIYADH SEASON series have become a lasting fixture in the boxing calendar, and the fantasy world has seen several invigorating fights.
Turki Alalshikh has largely led this groundbreaking change, seamlessly realizing his lofty ambitions while the sport’s most influential figures dance to his rhythm.
The latest to broker deals with Alalshikh are Bob Arum and Oscar de la Hoya, after their separate partnerships with Riyadh Season were revealed last month.
So it appears that boxing is now on the verge of being completely submerged by a once-little-known Saudi sports-entertainment initiative that has made no attempt to hide its meteoric rise.
In reality, the warning signs were plentiful, much like in the land of Westeros, where (albeit in a fictional context) the kingdom’s most powerful players were confronted with a very heartfelt and constant reminder: “Winter is coming.”
Unlike winter, however, this time of year is clearly here to stay, and instead of bringing in an army of White Walkers, Alalshikh has turned to Eminem and Liam Gallagher to support elevate the event.
And while it’s effortless to get lost in this fascinating world, there’s an equally clear motivation shared by every promoter who will look back in anger if they fail to capitalise on the lucrative opportunities that the season in Riyadh presents.
For example, Arum and De la Hoya have the opportunity to pit their promotional teams against each other, and with several intriguing matchups yet to come, one would assume that a potential 5-on-5 fight between Top Rank and Golden Boy would only produce fireworks.
But what does that look like? It gives you five potential combinations.
Christian Mbilli vs. Jaime Munguia (super middleweight)
A clash of two powerful punchers with incredible engines – what’s not to like? While both have upcoming tasks ahead of them, with Mbilli taking on Sergiy Derevyanchenko this Saturday and Munguia set to return to the ring against Erik Bazinyan in September, the pair would undoubtedly go all-out if called upon to fight.
And the fight is not out of the realm of possibility, as both fighters boast high WBC rankings, so an eliminator fight for Canelo Alvarez’s belt could be organized in the near future. However, in this true 50-50 fight, predicting the outcome is far from uncomplicated.
Xander Zayas vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr (super welterweight)
Most would agree that Zayas, a dazzling super welterweight prospect who looks set to become one of boxing’s brightest stars, remains a level or two below Ortiz. While that may be the case, the 21-year-old is clearly a few wins away from reaching the upper echelons of his division after a dominant showing against former world champion Patrick Teixeira.
Ortiz, on the other hand, was forced to overcome a arduous test in his last outing, winning a majority decision after twice getting up from the floor in his fight with Serhiy Bohachuk. Nevertheless, the American reminded fans of his quality with some nasty body attacks, and while Zayas also has a reputation as an effective boxer, the Puerto Rican would certainly benefit from more experience before facing one of the sport’s hazardous fighters.
Sandor Martin vs. Arnold Barboza Jr (Super Lightweight)
Since his highly controversial split decision defeat to Teofimo Lopez in 2022, Martin has largely distanced himself from the world super lightweight scene. However, despite amassing just two knockout fights against a narrow number of opponents in the past year, the WBC number one-ranked Spaniard could catapult himself back into contention with a win over the likes of Barboza.
It’s fair to say that both fighters are members of the “club that needs him,” but while Barboza is the mandatory challenger for Lopez’s WBO belt, his recent clash with Sean McComb suggests that his style still needs some refinement. The 32-year-old has looked more convincing in his performances over the likes of Jose Pedraza and Danielito Zorrilla, and his animated could see him secure a close decision win over Martin.
Teofimo Lopez vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez (Super Lightweight)
Of course, a potential fight between Lopez and Ryan Garcia — two explosive fighters — still carries a lot of weight. But after Garcia’s failed drug test, it might be best to leave him out of the conversation for now.
Regardless, former super lightweight champion Ramirez remains a formidable contender, coming off a comprehensive points victory over Cuban fighter Rances Barthelemy. Lopez, meanwhile, has failed to set the world on fire since his scintillating performance against Josh Taylor that clinched his WBO belt.
In truth, his win over Jamaine Ortiz earlier this year could have gone either way, but the 27-year-old proved that against a fighter like Ramirez, someone he wouldn’t have to look for, it would likely be a completely different fight.
Emanuel Navarrete vs. William Zepeda (lightweight)
It’s difficult to fathom that Zepeda — the No. 1 contender in all four sanctioning bodies — has yet to receive a title shot. To some, it would make more sense for the 28-year-old to face Vasiliy Lomachenko, who currently holds the IBF lightweight title.
But when it comes to watching a gladiatorial spectacle between two Mexican fighters, turning on the bling is neither here nor there. While Navarrete suffered a loss to Denys Berinchyk, the three-division world champion has proven to be a formidable operator, with an unorthodox style and devastating power that poses problems for anyone in the 135-pound division.
That said, the aggression of Zepeda’s front leg, who demolished Giovanni Cabrera in three rounds, may prove too much for his compatriot.
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