The Fights That Took Boxing to Saudi Arabia

Seeing megafights take place in Saudi Arabia is commonplace in 2024, but that wasn't always the case. The introduction of the Kingdom to the squared circle is a recent phenomenon, Professional wrestling giants WWE were the first to take blockbuster bouts over to the Arabian Gulf, putting on show-stopping pay-per-views there as early as April 2018. But boxing wasn't far behind.

Upcoming Saudi Slugfests

It was recently announced that Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will do battle once again in Saudi after their epic first bout a few months ago. That initial showdown was a controversial affair, with Beterbiev narrowly pipping his compatriot via a razor-thin majority decision. Now, the latest betting odds make the reigning undisputed cruiserweight champion an 8/11 favourite to repeat the feat early next year.

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will also head back to the country to contest a rematch of their own. It was the Ukrainian who won their initial contest, and he too is narrowly favoured to get the job done once more. He is priced as short as 4/7 with some outlets, and if you fancy both favourites to live up to the billing, then an acca calculator shows a £10 bet on the pair would return £27.14.

But while these two rematches are the latest in a long line of megafights to head to Saudi Arabia, two trailblazing bouts set the tone for what was to come.

‼️ Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol official promo trailer ahead of the undisputed fight on Oct 12th…

@Turki_Alalshikh] pic.twitter.com/3wI6s8BdGD

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) September 25, 2024

George Groves vs. Callum Smith

The first of those came back in September 2018, six months on from WWE's maiden foray into the country. George Groves and Callum Smith squared off in the final of the World Boxing Super Series' super-middleweight tournament, with the former defeating Chris Eubank Jr. and the latter beating Dutchman Nieky Holzken to punch their ticket to the finals. The contest took place in Jeddah, and promoter Kalle Sauerland said "This could be the start of something big," — how right he was.

Both fighters had immense stakes riding on the outcome. Groves was the reigning WBA super-middleweight champion and was narrowly favoured to emerge as the undisputed champion. On the other hand, Smith entered the fight as an undefeated rising star on the verge of greatness. For them, the setting may have been unprecedented, but the stakes underscored the bout's magnitude.

Inside the ring, Smith seized his opportunity, delivering a career-defining performance. The fight ended in the seventh round when he floored Groves with a powerful left hook to claim victory via knockout. The Liverpudlian not only won the tournament but also cemented his place as one of Britain’s brightest boxing talents. Beyond the action, the event sent a clear signal—Saudi Arabia was here to stay and able to put on awe-inspiring shows to rival the rest of the planet.

Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua II

The George Groves vs. Callum Smith fight opened the door, but it was Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua II, held three years later, that truly showcased Saudi Arabia’s potential. After the American Ruiz shockingly knocked out Joshua as a huge underdog in the Brit's American debut in Madison Square Garden, all eyes were on the rematch. However, the newly minted champion was unwilling to defend the straps on enemy territory.

Eddie Hearn found neutral ground in the form of Saudi Arabia, with the country stumping up a reported $100m to secure the fight. They pulled out all the stops on hosting duties, constructing a purpose-built arena in Diriyah, a historic site near Riyadh. This venue stood as a testament to the kingdom’s commitment to hosting global sporting events at the highest level.

The fight carried massive implications for both athletes. Joshua aimed to redeem himself after his stunning loss, while Ruiz sought to prove his victory wasn’t a fluke. Under the desert lights, it was evident from the ring walks that Ruiz was incredibly out of shape, perhaps celebrating his championship upset too much. Joshua took full advantage, showcasing a clinical performance to outbox the champion over 12 rounds and secure his second World Heavyweight Championship crown.