Boxing’s landscape has become almost unrecognisable over the last year, its shifting sands sieving the biggest fights to, well, the sands of Saudi Arabia. But the Gulf state and its deep reserves of money are not just hosting the biggest fights, they are creating them: the kinds of match-ups that long eluded fans. Undisputed title fights between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev stand out, topping cards of unprecedented depths: events with world champions and renowned names in almost every bout. Yet the glimmer of title belts can distract.
Saudi’s entry into boxing is not without its issues, the most pressing of which is its link to accusations of sportswashing. And for British fans particularly, the growth of boxing in Saudi is creating a dearth of boxing back home.
