Comments Thread For: De La Hoya on Saudi Arabia: 'If Riyadh Is Going to Offer Something Crazy, You Have to Think About It'

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Promoter Oscar De la Hoya thinks staging fights in Saudi Arabia can be a mixed bag. The head of Golden Boy Promotions understands that the oil-producing country can offer career-high paydays to fighters, but he is also wary of the potential long-term effects fighting in the Middle East can have on fighters' overall marketability, especially those who are American.
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[Robi13]

Literally begging for the saudis to raise the offer, when they probably haven’t even negotiated anything lol… shame

[Oldskoolg]

It basically benefits the fighters and promoters and no one else. It is not in any way a benefit of American or British fans. There used to be clubs in London that had professional fights as their evening entertainment and this is what these Saudi fights remind me of, personal entertainment for the royal house of Saud wherein “his excellency” has stars around him and pro fights for all the sheikhs. Sadly it looks like the Saudis have taken over so called “British boxing” above anything but the regional/club level, I sure hope this doesn’t become the norm for American and America based fighters as well

[DClefthook]

I've been saying this ever since the Saudis got into western sports. Pro golf is in turmoil right now because of LIV golf tour. Now the Saudis want boxing. You are correct in saying that boxing is going to be reduced to only club shows in the UK (thanks Eddie hearn). Boxing is just a niche sport in America now and if we lose the big fights to the Saudis then not is it over for boxing in America but boxing period. Boxing cannot not survive on "ShowBox" and "Tuesday night fights" level events. Boxing fans in America will just transition to UFC football and basketball. F-Dat! Oh and just a reminder ... Saudi Arabia is the country that state sponsored the ********* attacks in NY and DC on 9/11. Just remember that!

[ELPacman]

Is Oscar referring to the Saudi's offering him a new set of flashy pumps?

[vitruvian]

As a fighter I get it it's obvious but as a fan my God do I agree with Oscar. There is nothing more annoying and odd than watching one of my PPV's at high noon. It takes so much away from the event. I hate it.

[vitruvian]

I want a NIGHT of fights as in dark time. That is something I wouldn't imagine playing as big a role as it has but it absolutely is a factor. That and bring back my old crew of Jim Lampley and the HBO crew. It sucks watching boxing with GD commercials on ESPN.

[CPNUTKnockoutFreshMart]

Oscar raises a really good point about the long term effects.

[Slip jab]

Take credit Oscar. Not making fights actually left room for the saudis to come in and capitalize. This is what “marinating “ did. Haymon even more so by paying fighters NOT to fight. Fortunately this will be the norm and it’ll be good for the fans.

[ShoulderRoll]

He’s right that fighters aren’t going to be fighting in Riyadh all the time.