Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh has once again been named the most influential figure in global boxing, topping Boxing News magazine’s annual “Top 50 Most Influential in Global Boxing” list for 2025. It’s the second year in a row the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has claimed the top spot, emphasizing his role in shaping the future of the sport.
Alalshikh has been the driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a global hub for boxing. Under his watch, Riyadh has hosted some of the most talked-about events in recent history including Tyson Fury’s undisputed heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua’s blockbuster bouts.
But his influence goes well beyond boxing. As one of the architects of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, Alalshikh has spearheaded efforts to bring international entertainment to Saudi Arabia, from WWE spectacles and major football friendlies to high-profile concerts and cultural festivals. These moves have helped diversify the economy and reshape the country’s global image.
In the boxing world, his pull is undeniable. Major promoters, fighters, and broadcasters now build their calendars around Riyadh’s events, with the city emerging as a rival to Las Vegas and London. Upcoming title fights in 2025 are expected to continue that momentum, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s place at the centre of the sport.
Boxing News, the UK’s oldest boxing publication, praised Alalshikh’s ability to redefine boxing’s power map. His influence has not only brought the sport’s biggest names to the Kingdom but has also changed where and how the biggest nights in boxing are staged.
Bringing sports to the Kingdom
Over the past few years, Riyadh Season has firmly established itself as a heavyweight in the global entertainment arena, drawing some of the world’s biggest names in music, sport, and live entertainment to the Saudi capital. Among these attractions, boxing has emerged as one of the standout pillars of its international success.
Building on this momentum, organisers in January announced a major new milestone: the launch of the Riyadh Season Boxing World Cup, set to debut in 2025. Designed as an ambitious extension of the festival brand, the tournament will offer a world-class platform for emerging talent while cementing the Kingdom’s growing influence in the sport.
Unveiled at the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Annual Convention in Hamburg, the inaugural edition of the competition will feature four weight divisions, Featherweight, Super Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight, with 128 fighters from across the globe competing in a series of five events leading up to a championship final.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, described the project as both a personal passion and a continuation of Saudi Arabia’s broader sporting ambitions. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman also underscored its significance, highlighting that the competition fulfils a vision first dreamed up by his late father, Don Jose.
