Former two-division champion Tim Bradley believes many of boxing’s biggest fights now only move forward when Saudi funding is involved. Bradley argued that promoters across the sport rely on the financial backing linked to Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh when trying to stage big events.
Bradley criticized the direction of the sport and the way several of its biggest cards are financed. He argued that promoters publicly complain about Saudi involvement, while still putting fighters on those events when the purses are available. According to Bradley, the current business structure has created a situation where the biggest fights are often dependent on outside financial backing rather than traditional boxing markets.
“Everybody in boxing needs Turki Alalshikh because the big fights are going to be made,” Bradley said on his channel. “Turki Alalshikh pays you money.”
Bradley made the comments on his YouTube channel while discussing the current business climate in boxing and the increasing influence of Saudi-backed events.
Saudi cards have staged several of the sport’s most prominent fights during the past two years, particularly in Riyadh, where events funded by Saudi investment have brought together fighters from rival promotional companies. Those shows often require collaboration between promoters who usually operate in separate markets in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Bradley argued that financial support from Saudi Arabia became an important factor behind that cooperation. According to Bradley, many promoters are putting fighters on Saudi cards because the purses offered there are larger than many traditional boxing events currently generate.
“They may complain about him, but they need him,” Bradley said while discussing the topic.
Bradley also suggested that the financial power behind those events changed how fights are organized at the top level of the sport. According to him, promoters often work together on Saudi cards because the funding available makes it possible to organize matches that would otherwise struggle to reach a financial agreement.
The former champion delivered the criticism bluntly, but his comments reflected a growing discussion within boxing about where the money for the sport’s biggest fights now comes from. Bradley’s comments suggest that Saudi-backed events have become a significant factor when compiling the biggest battles.
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Last updated on 2026/03/05 at 21:26
