BY JAMIE BROWN

In recent years, the global popularity of boxing has experienced a peak growth in interest with regions like the Middle East being at the front of its transformation. New and improved venues are being developed, with high-profile card being showcased at these events. The impact on the sport’s development and financial growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. But at what cost? 

“It’s been a real injection” Dev Sahni presenter for Queensberry responded following the question how Saudi Arabia has boosted boxing in not just a popularity sense but financially as well. Dev followed his by discussing about how were seeing quality fights such as the champion ship fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk or the Artur Beterbiev vs Dimitry Bivol 2 and how these types of fights do not just happen every day. Talking to Dev Sahni more he showed his keen interest in the future of boxing and how its boxing has raised the bar significantly on quality product, so it is opening doors for a lot of up-and-coming boxers as well. Saudi boxers coming through you got the likes of Muhammad Alaka Zad Alma Youth and get the opportunity to shine and represent Saudi Arabia. I also posed the topic of how the atmosphere is in Saudi due to reports in the past few years of it being controversial. Dev was thought the atmosphere was fantastic and said it to be the same as anywhere along as the card was good, he recalled back to the fight between Fury vs Naganou battle of the baddest where the atmosphere was unbelievable where they had performers and the ring came out the ground 

I carried out several more interviews with many other journalist such as Lewis Hart from “Ring” magazine who expressed his opinion of that “we are seeing fights we want to get made” which helped the popularity of boxing and bring a bigger fan base, with many fighters traveling across the globe which is building stronger foreign relations. Lewis carried on describing his opinion on Saudis Invesment into boxing has caused it to peak in recent years. He thinks boxing will always grow naturally yet the big names fighting big names such as Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford for example I do not think that we would has necessarily been something that would have been there before um before the major investment. Overall, Lewis’s opinion is that the sport grows when big fights are happening and if big fights happening. 

“It’s saved boxing”, “It’s revived boxing.”

FACTS HER ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA’S VISION 2030. And it goes much further than that. The county has launched Vision 2030. It has three main pillars:  a vibrant society, a thriving economy and to have an ambitious nation. The website stands by their goals where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. By providing a supportive business environment for businesses of all sizes and investing in education to prepare for the jobs of the future.  

Why are the Saudis so keen on boxing? Is a thought which many wonder. Boxing is a powerful sport with many followers due to pure entertainment following the development of more high-profile events being highlighted at unimageable venues.  

Hamish TV, another journalist who works with online platforms like Gunman Boxing says: “It’s saved boxing”, “It’s revived boxing.” Hamish said this as he believed was a period of time where people were questioning whether boxing is even safe and whether should boxing even be happening but the investment from Saudi Arabia has brought some of the biggest fights. Hamish has strong feeling for Saudi Arabia due to the amount of time and energy which has been put in which he said its “keeping boxing alive.” Boxing is going worldwide due to the growth of the sport, Hamish think boxing is just going to keep doing what it’s doing it’s going to keep growing we’re going to keep seeing new bigger names come we have some big fights in Saudi Arabia all over the world Qatar um America UK London Wembley Mexico you name it everywhere boxing is going worldwide and that’s what we want that’s what the fans want to see worldwide we want boxing. 

Turki Alalshikh has been driving Saudi Arabia’s boxing initiatives; under Alalshikh’s leadership, Saudi Arabia has hosted a series of high-profile boxing events, including the “Fight Card of the Century” in Riyadh – featuring boxing legends like Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. This fight card just sums up why the Saudis are so keen in boxing due to massive financial gain from the remarkable fight cards which generate t the country tons of money.  

This links back to vision 2030 where the Saudis what to have an ambition nation. they are building a country that is effectively governed and accountable, encouraging all of society – citizens, businesses, and non-profit organizations – to take the lead in identifying and pursuing opportunities to advance our collective future.  

The atmosphere was unbelievable” Dev Sahni says of a card in Saudi in 2024 featuring England’s Tyson Fury and Oleksander Usyk of Ukraine. “They had performers there and the ring came out the ground” is another thing Dev Sahni enthusiastically commented on about the Tyson vs. Usyk card. This level of entrainment is why Saudi had brought boxing back to its former glory.   

But not is all good news. Many believe boxing has become a victim of sportswashing. This can be portrayed in an article released by the Guardian  indulging into while Saudi Arabia’s pivot towards a more liberal society is a welcome change for the conservative kingdom, it also raises important questions about the government’s relatively sudden interest in sports. “Saudi Arabia’s relatively sudden interest in sports can be construed as a soft power tactic to help distract from the kingdom’s ongoing human rights abuses and the Yemen crisis.” Is a quote I took from the guardian’s article supporting the idea of boxing being a victim of sports washing.  

But at grassroots level, many are reluctant to talk in detail about the issue which is growing at an alarming rate. An example of this is a former journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi was a prominent Saudi journalist, and dissident who gained international attention after his assassination in 2018.   

Investigations concluded that he was killed and dismembered by a team of Saudi operatives. The murder caused a diplomatic crisis and strained Saudi Arabia’s relations with Western nations. Khashoggi became a symbol of press freedom and the dangers faced by journalists in other.   

Journalised are faced with a problem weather they should what they think is right or do something there uncomfortable with due to the standings of their job. I had a similar experience with this when trying to speak to someone regarding my topic however they did not want to speak to me about this due to the fear they stand on.   

Back in Nottingham I was fortunate enough to speak to Josh Hart who is a reporter and editor for Seconds live. Speaking to Josh, he helped me develop a more structured opinion on my topic. “Some time you just have to do what the right thing is weather we stand on our beliefs, or do we stand on their beliefs.” this was said from josh during an interview I did with him regarding sports washing in Saudi. Josh was limited on what he could talk about linking back to fear journalist deal with.  

“don’t get looked after and their risking their life.” 

It is easy to see why people are attracted to Saudi when at home they do not earn as much. Former boxer Donnavon Smillie delivered his concern for the pay boxers receive from his experiences being a former boxer. Donovan referred to footballer during my interview with him saying they get paid “stupid money” whereas boxers “don’t get looked after and their risking their life.”   

Most professional boxers earn between $950 (£701.96) and $3,500 (£2,586.15) per fight at the start of their careers. Even experienced fighters can face challenges, with many earning less than $50,000 (£36,945.00) a year. This discrepancy highlights the tough economic realities within the sport, as not every boxer finds financial success despite their dedication and talent.   

From the statics I gave it shows boxers would have to fight 7-8 times a year just to make ends meet. Which is unsafe and rise many concerns, yet a lot of boxers do not fight for the money and do it because they love it and it is what they want to live their life doing.  

I also spoke to an undefeated boxer Ezra Taylor or his ring nickname “The Cannon,”. Ezra Taylor is a British professional boxer from Nottingham, England, competing in the light-heavyweight division. Taylor began his professional career on March 7, 2020, where he has become the WBC International Light-Heavyweight Champion, Commonwealth Silver Light-Heavyweight Champion and became the WBA Continental Gold Light-Heavyweight Champion in May 2025, where Taylor defeated Troy Jones by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. Ezra gave me a distinct perspective as everyone else I had spoken too was a journalist of some form. “Money can be a motivation” Ezra commented regarding the pay boxers receive for the “hard work in and out the ring.” Boxing is a hard sport with many mental challenges along the way and can be difficult to overcome problems if money is also affecting their mental health as well.   

Can the investment into boxing and other sports be separated from the issue of human rights and free speech? Are we too in awe of the money to question the underlying issues?  

The pure amount of money which is being invested in boxing is nothing short of unimageable. Boxing is a rough -edged sport, in and out of the ring. We can celebrate the resources being put into the sport while also condemning the Saudi state for its many human rights issues. We just must be aware of the issues and continue to push for change. Soft power comes with responsibilities, and if Saudi Arabia want to accept as part of the sporting world, then they need to face up to these responsibilities.