Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have defended Saudi Arabia’s involvement in boxing following criticism surrounding the Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua fight, held at Wembley Stadium last Saturday. The event was organized by Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s general entertainment authority, and has drawn backlash due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and accusations of using sports to improve its global image.
Warren, who promotes Dubois, credited Saudi support for making the fight possible, stating, “These type of events would not be able to be made without financial input.” He dismissed complaints about the Saudi national anthem being played before the fight, emphasizing that the financial backing from Alalshikh was driven by a genuine love for boxing.
Hearn, who promotes Joshua, echoed similar sentiments, describing the Saudi involvement as a “shot in the arm” for British boxing. He highlighted Riyadh Season’s commitment to elevating the sport and noted that the Wembley event marked a significant collaboration between Saudi Arabia and UK boxing.
Both promoters argued that Saudi support has brought positive attention to the sport, with Hearn expressing disbelief at the criticism, stating that the passion for boxing demonstrated by Riyadh Season should be recognized and appreciated.
