“He would sit and watch the Zuffa shows completely unimpressed,” Hearn told Ariel Helwani while discussing the current boxing landscape.
Hearn explained that Alalshikh’s expectations for big boxing events are built around recognizable fighters, strong undercards and the type of atmosphere normally associated with stadium cards. The Saudi boxing press has emphasized headline fights between top fighters, big venues and international distribution that puts the sport in front of global audiences.
“He loves big shows. He loves big fights. He loves deep cards, big names, sold-out stadiums and the buzz of boxing,” Hearn said in describing Alalshikh’s approach to the sport.
The Saudi official played a central role in the recent series of high-profile boxing events associated with the Riyadh season, many of which featured top champions and contenders in various divisions. Those cards included major heavyweight fights and other title fights that drew worldwide attention.
Zuffa only recently entered the boxing business, and his early cards took place on a smaller stage than many of the Riyadh season events. Several of the shows were held in smaller venues and focused on building the brand rather than staging big title fights.
Hearn believes the difference will remain noticeable as the project continues to develop and seek to establish itself in the sport. In his view, the early maps did not yet match the scale or depth of the events that became common during the Riyadh Season era.
For Hearn, the standard for big boxing events is already clear, and any new promotion that enters the space will ultimately be judged against it. From his perspective, the early Zuffa cards simply hadn’t reached that level yet.
