Saudi Arabia’s PIF Eyes Boxing League With Matchroom & Golden Boy in Discussions

According to a report in Reuters, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are in discussions with leading figures in the boxing world, including Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions to create a league with the aim of reshaping boxing as we know it.

PIF Aiming to Create Boxing League

Saudi League to Change Boxing Landscape

The report from Reuters details how PIF are looking to enter into a joint venture with some of the most powerful people in boxing. The mention of Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions and other promoters being involved in negotiations is a tantalising one. Sources to Reuters mention the value of any potential deal will be worth $4-5 billion.

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PIF are aiming to create a venture, bringing together the powerful people in boxing, while only taking a minority stake in any deal. Turki Alashikh, the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority was involved in final discussions a month ago. How any potential deal would look is unknown at this point.

Boxing is the latest sport to attract potential investment from the PIF, which is under the chairmanship of Mohammed bin Salman. They have already made deals across golf, Formula 1, and football to great effect, with the fund also considering investment in cycling.

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Any potential deal in boxing could be problematic as the PGA-Liv deal has been with a U.S. senate panel accusing the Saudis of trying to  “buy influence” in U.S. sports.

Further Opportunities in Boxing

The kingdom has already left its footprint in the boxing history books by hosting some of the biggest fights, including Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, which gave us the first undisputed champion in the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis. His Excellency previously spoke to ESPN about opportunities in boxing: “There is big opportunity in boxing” Al-Sheikh told ESPN earlier this year. “But you must improve the market.”