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Since the Saudi government official’s arrival into boxing in late 2023, the sport has changed rapidly on the international scene, with the collaboration of Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren, Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum et al. among the most significant developments.
Where previously these powerbrokers of boxing would reluctantly work together, or in some cases simply refuse to do so, they’re now all smiles and backslaps as Alalshikh’s millions work their magic to facilitate the big fights.
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But what becomes of these productive new relationships when the Alalshikh-White-formed TKO boxing promotion wants to take over, or, in the words of “His Excellency”, “crush everything”?
For Hearn, he hopes the love-in continues.
“We’re in the business at the moment of playing nice and it’s very enjoyable and I think it has potential and it has a future,” the Matchroom Boxing boss told Sporting News.
“It’s so much more enjoyable when you actually build relationships and start working together. His Excellency did that but I definitely advise it.”
After cosying up to the likes of Hearn and Warren over the past 18 or so months, having used their brands and fighters to establish himself as the dominant power in boxing, is Alalshikh now pulling the rug from under them?
A quick look at the social media reaction to TKO’s announcement tells you that many believe the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has done just that, playing the sport’s most powerful figures for just as long as he needed them.
Whether Hearn believes that or not, he certainly isn’t about to burn any bridges with Alalshikh, but he’s also got no plans to get out of the sport any time soon.
“There was a Twitter account… they put up that, ‘Eddie Hearn has decided he’s going to walk away from the …
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