“He will be sitting there watching the Zuffa shows completely unimpressed,” Hearn said to Ariel Helwani while discussing the current boxing landscape.
Hearn explained that Alalshikh’s expectations for major boxing events are built around recognizable fighters, strong undercards, and the type of atmosphere normally associated with stadium cards. The Saudi boxing push has placed emphasis on headline bouts between top fighters, large venues, and international distribution that places the sport in front of global audiences.
“He loves big shows. He loves great fights. He loves deep cards, big names, sold-out stadiums, and the buzz of boxing,” Hearn said when describing Alalshikh’s approach to the sport.
The Saudi official has played a central role in the recent run of high-profile boxing events tied to Riyadh Season, many of which have featured leading champions and contenders across multiple divisions. Those cards have included major heavyweight fights and other title bouts that attracted worldwide attention.
Zuffa has only recently entered the boxing business, and its early cards have taken place on a smaller stage than many of the Riyadh Season events. Several of the shows have been held in smaller venues and have focused on building the brand rather than staging major title fights.
Hearn believes that the difference will remain noticeable as the project continues to develop and attempts to establish itself in the sport. In his view, the early cards have yet to match the scale or depth of the events that have become common during the Riyadh Season era.
For Hearn, the standard for large boxing events is already clear, and any new promotion entering the space will eventually be judged against it. From his perspective, the early Zuffa cards simply have not reached that level yet.
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