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This week one of the most impressive cards in the sport heads to Saudi Arabia.
If anyone has been living under a rock and underestimates the financial power of the Middle Eastern state then they just need to look at the names and numbers involved. Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are not here in Riyadh for anything less than eight figures as they face Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively.
It’s a clear play at becoming the major power in boxing as much as it will be claimed as sportswashing with Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk to come in February. It has left the fight capital of the world looking on but Las Vegas is not concerned.
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“Saudi Arabia being on the other side of the world from Las Vegas just allows the sport to grow,” said Steve Hill from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
“I hope Saudi believes that is the same. Having a race in Las Vegas helps the sport grow and in boxing I hope that is what happens with the interest in Saudi.
“We are going to be able to sell out boxing events in Las Vegas for a long, long time. Hopefully that just helps grow the sport. I think we will continue to be the capital of the boxing universe, we have for so long.”
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But there’s real competition now. Of course, big fights have gone to New York and London and others in the past. Those cities had to rely on gate receipts and PPV revenue to make them profitable.
Vegas has been a city which had the added financial muscle of the casinos who, would put up big sums to get the big fights so the gamblers would flock to the Strip.
“We’re still getting the big fights,” said one hotel source. “We’ve had massive events like Terence Crawford against Errol Spence Jnr, Canelo Alvarez. But we’d be lying if we didn’t think the money from Saudi is a concern.”
The landscape has also changed in America. Gambling is now legal in many states and moved online having previously been heavily restricted in most parts outside of Nevada.
But gone are the days when boxing, college sports and lower-level pro sports were the only opportunities to see sporting action on the Strip.
Now there’s a Stanley Cup-winning ice-hockey side in the Golden Knights while they’ve brought the Raiders from Oakland to play at the stunning Allegiant Stadium.
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There’s plans to bring the Oakland As – of Moneyball fame – to a new baseball stadium on the site of the famous Tropicana hotel while there is expected to be an NBA franchise in the future.
“Having those professional teams here matters a lot to the city,” said Hill. "From the event standpoint but also our brand.”
Then there was the recent return of Formula 1 to Sin City. An event which started badly with a host of issues but ended up being one of the most exciting races of the season.
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It’s predicted that could be worth an $1.25bn to the city economically. That’s where Vegas has a lead on Saudi.
Many western travellers are wary of going to the Middle Eastern state because of its laws on alcohol and human rights issues amongst other things despite the influx of some huge football names, music superstars and more.
Las Vegas remains a bucket-list destination for many, even if it is far from a perfect city, that can get the tills ringing like few others. “Anything you want to do to have fun, you can find in Vegas,” added Hill.
It’s a city that couldn’t be further from Saudi Arabia culture. But now both are major players in boxing. And it will be interesting to see if they can both thrive.
- Anthony Joshua
- Deontay Wilder
- Tyson Fury
- Saudi Arabia
- Boxing
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