Naoya Inoue and Turki Alalshikh $19M Sponsorship Deal

Naoya Inoue, Japan's undisputed junior featherweight champion, has teamed up with Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season through a major sponsorship agreement valued at an impressive $19 million. This collaboration signals potential shifts in Inoue’s future fight locations and could lead to some high-profile bouts on international stages.

While specific plans remain speculative, there’s talk that the sponsorship could facilitate fights for Inoue in Saudi Arabia, the United States, or other global venues. Even those close to Inoue are uncertain how this alliance may impact his fight schedule. However, the collaboration aligns with Alalshikh's history of hosting premier boxing events, hinting at exciting prospects.

Inoue is set to defend his 122-pound title on Christmas Eve in Tokyo against Australian contender Sam Goodman. Additionally, there's buzz about a potential April showdown in Las Vegas against Japanese bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani. Given Alalshikh's track record of orchestrating undisputed title fights in divisions like heavyweight and light heavyweight, the deal may open doors for blockbuster matches in Inoue’s career.

Possible future matchups could include junior bantamweight champion Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez and featherweight title fights, as well as enticing mega-bouts in higher weight classes. While lightweight (135 pounds) may be ambitious for Inoue, Alalshikh has previously pushed for “fantasy” fights, such as his recent bid to arrange a super-fight between Canelo Alvarez (168 pounds) and Terence Crawford (154 pounds).

A unique aspect of this partnership might see Inoue serve as an ambassador for Riyadh Season, expanding its reach. This role could include fighting in emerging markets, with China as a potential destination—an aspiration Alalshikh has expressed interest in pursuing.