Turki Alalshikh has become one of the most influential figures in boxing. The man behind Riyadh Season now calls the shots for many major fights and events in the sport.
Alalshikh's latest move involves a potential rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. This comes after Dubois scored a surprising win over Joshua at Wembley Stadium, stopping him in the fifth round to become the IBF World Champion.
Dubois' victory has raised questions about Joshua's future in boxing. But it seems Alalshikh isn't done with either fighter just yet.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, spoke to talkSPORT Boxing about the situation:
"There's a rematch clause, but it's structured differently. Both guys have separate contracts with Riyadh Season. They have one more fight with Anthony Joshua, and they have the option to fight Daniel Dubois."
Hearn explained that Riyadh Season will deal with Frank Warren and Daniel Dubois directly. As for Joshua's stance, Hearn said:
"AJ will always want the rematch. He's a fighter. Daniel Dubois is up for the rematch because it's the biggest fight for him. And His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] wants to make the rematch."
The timing of a potential rematch remains unknown. Joshua needs time to recover from a bruising night in the ring.
Alalshikh's influence extends beyond this fight. He's orchestrated major events like the upcoming undisputed heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. He's also behind the light-heavyweight 'four crown showdown' between Artur Beterbiev and Dimitri Bivol, as well as the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5 vs 5 event.
The Wembley Stadium event marked Riyadh Season's first foray into UK-based boxing. With the unexpected result and Alalshikh's desire for a rematch, it looks like his influence on the sport will continue to grow.
