Turki Alalshikh announces retirement from boxing promotion

Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi businessman and President of the General Entertainment Authority, has announced his retirement at age 45 due to health reasons. Alalshikh has been a transformative figure in professional boxing, using significant investments to turn Saudi Arabia into a global hub for elite fights, including matchups such as Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou and Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua.

His departure creates uncertainty for the sport's future in the region, as many promoters and champions have already signed contracts for upcoming events in Riyadh. Alalshikh also spearheaded the Riyadh Season entertainment festival, which integrated sports and music to position the country as a major event destination.

Despite his retirement, major boxing events in Saudi Arabia are proceeding. On October 31, a “Mexico vs The World” event will take place in Riyadh, headlined by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez against Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight championship. The card will also feature Mexican boxer Raymundo “Ray” Rojas, who is scheduled to face Reito Tsutsumi in the super featherweight division.