The conflict started when Oscar de la Hoya claimed Stevenson had pulled out of an expected fight with William Zepeda. Stevenson fired back, saying he wouldn't fight for less money than promised. He accused Alalshikh of not being a man of his word and wanting to pay less than he deserved.
At first, Stevenson stood his ground. He posted on social media, "Real men stand up, never bow to anyone but the creator." But things changed quickly.
In a surprising turn of events, Stevenson apologized to Alalshikh. He wrote on social media, "Excited for my upcoming fight, it was a misunderstanding between Turki and the team. Apologies for my overreaction, let's get to work @Turki_alalshikh!"
The public's reaction to Stevenson's apology hasn't been kind. Many boxing fans criticized the champion for backing down. Some accused him of bragging at first, then bowing to the power of the Saudi businessman.
One commenter said, "That's why I don't respect you. You can't even defend your own words. Pathetic." Another noted, "Every time someone says crazy things to Turki, then they backtrack, haha."
The situation has raised questions about money's influence in boxing. Stevenson's previous fight against Padley earned him more than the offer for the Zepeda bout. Some fans feel the champion chose money over dignity.
This incident shows the growing power of Saudi money in boxing. It also highlights the tough choices fighters face between doing what they think is right and managing public opinion.
For now, Stevenson seems focused on his next fight. But he'll have work to do to win back the respect of boxing fans who feel let down by his quick change of heart.