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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Thomas Hauser

Boxing has a drug problem. Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh can make fixing it his legacy

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, watches a March boxing card alongside Portuguese football manager Jose Mourinho at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, watches a March boxing card alongside Portuguese football manager Jose Mourinho at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena. Photograph: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

It’s a matter of record that I’ve expressed misgivings about the migration of major boxing matches to Saudi Arabia. But I recognize that the Kingdom will be a dominant force in boxing for the foreseeable future.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia, through its General Entertainment Authority (GEA), has hosted an increasing number of high-profile fights. On 18 May, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will battle at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. This summer, the GEA will extend its reach to fight cards in Los Angeles and London.

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