Riyadh: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Advisor Turki Alalshikh topped Boxing News magazine's list of the most influential figures in global boxing for the second consecutive year, reflecting Saudi Arabia's growing stature in hosting and organizing major sporting events, supported by its wise leadership.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Alalshikh has led a major transformation in the international boxing scene by bringing the world's most high-profile fights to Riyadh, presenting fans with historic confrontations featuring the most prominent champions and promoters.
The prestigious magazine noted that Alalshikh relaunched The Ring magazine with a fresh spirit and successfully restructured the pricing system of DAZN, a global sports streaming platform, to meet audience demands. He also achieved the remarkable feat of bringing together promotional giants Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren in a collaboration once considered impossible. This award symbolizes the growing boxing movement in Riyadh, reshaping the landscape of modern boxing and reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a leading hub in the global sports arena, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The list featured several key figures in global boxing, including British promoter Frank Warren in second place, his rival Eddie Hearn in third, and American counterpart Bob Arum in fourth.
In fifth place was Mexican boxer Canelo lvarez, who is set to compete in a major fight next September against American Terence Crawford, a matchup that is expected to capture global attention.