Comments Thread For: The Beltline: The revolution sometimes plays out in front of empty seats in silent rooms

[BoxingUpdates]

While the growing influence of Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season has helped make many people in the sport rich, has wealth come at the expense of the overall fight-night experience? asks Elliot Worsell
[Click Here To Read More]

[Liondw]

Yes, true, the fights in Saudi Arabia, even Beterbiev-Bivol and to a lesser extent Fury-Usyk, lacked big fight atmosphere.

That is, the big fight atmosphere one is used to with fights in Vegas and MSG of the past. Those are more rare now.

The fighters, trainers and promoters are obviously fine with dealing with a bit of a depressing atmosphere in exchange for the money.

[Old Spice]

If they give women equal rights, maybe they'll go to fights and fill the seating

[Kpmaryland]

They go to be involved with the big shots. Boxing is not big there, they don’t know the fighters, no booze chics lol

[JeBron Lamez]

"...Riyadh Season, the impact of which has changed boxing in every conceivable way."

Every conceivable way? Errrm, anybody wanna let all the judges know?

[TCB BOXING]

The bare fact's that men want to be able to drink, chase women , see naked women dance and with the distance to get there , who cares?

[landotter]

There is a fun element missing in the sterile, very controlled environment of Saudi. I personally think a fan base can be built for boxing there, but the goal seems to be more PR driven, with every aspect having to be approved by the Authority so the world sees the proper result.

I also feel this way about watching a boxing event in Japan. There is just no crest of emotion to the crowds there. Nothing feels organic, everything feels scripted. It doesn't detract from the quality of the fight- that is 100% on the boxers in the ring. It kills the energy.

[SteveM]

Great writing as usual but this comes with a BIG BUT ,,,,,

These are mostly fights that we wouldn't get to see without the Saudi money!

As a fan I would rather see Ramirez vs CBS without a crowd than the other option .... no match-up between CBS and Ramirez.

It's not like Turki is robbing US and/or British fans of seeing this fight take place in Las Vegas or London - it simply wouldn't happen at all - not enough money unless in Bournemouth and I can't see Ramirez going into CBS back yard as a co-champion.

The same can be said of the 5x5 card = just wouldn't have happened due to promoter rivalry. You could make an argument that Nick Ball would be still unknown without Turki money - same for Bakole, Madrimov, Bohachuk, and Kabayel

[James Hunt]

This week's Saudi/Turki hit piece.

[CPNUTKnockoutFreshMart]

There is a fun element missing in the sterile, very controlled environment of Saudi. I personally think a fan base can be built for boxing there, but the goal seems to be more PR driven, with every aspect having to be approved by the Authority so the world sees the proper result.

I also feel this way about watching a boxing event in Japan. There is just no crest of emotion to the crowds there. Nothing feels organic, everything feels scripted. It doesn't detract from the quality of the fight- that is 100% on the boxers in the ring. It kills the energy.

At least the Japanese show up to the fights and make noise before and after the fight. The Saudi arena just has members of the House of Saud and business people sucking up to them. Riyadh Season is supposedly about driving tourism to Saudi Arabia , but they never show anything fun to do there. I've been all over the M.E. Turkey used to be pretty fun but the rest of it is just depressing.