From Las Vegas to Riyadh: The Growth of Boxing in Saudi Arabia

posted on: Feb 18, 2026

By Ben Samuels / Arab America Contributing Writer

For decades, the vast majority of major boxing events were held in Las Vegas and New York City however, Saudi Arabia has recently emerged as a major player in the boxing and entertainment world. Fights such as Joshua-Ruiz 2 and Fury-Usyk 1 have recorded record-breaking fight purses as well as millions of viewers. These advances in entertainment are largely a part of an annual festival called Riyadh Season. It is an attempt by the Saudi leadership to diversify its economic portfolio through entertainment. The city has become a new hub for boxing matches that rivals Las Vegas and New York.

Saudi Arabia begins Promoting Big-Time Boxing

For most of Boxing’s history, major events were held in a relatively small range of cities. Mostly New York and Las Vegas, with the occasional London event. This was because the larger market for the sport (money, fans, promoters, etc.) was based in these cities. Names such as Mike Tyson took these cities by storm when he brought his magic to the arena.

The current generation of elite fighters has taken to Riyadh for their multi-million dollar fight cards and large purses. Since 2018, there has been an influx of super fights in the city. The rise of boxing in Saudi Arabia has become large enough that the city is beginning to rival Las Vegas for the title of “fight capital of the world”. The highly anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr was held in Diriyah and drew worldwide attention. This match signaled that Saudi Arabia was willing to invest heavily in boxing’s new generation of superstars.

Joshua vs Ruiz 2 (2019)

The Joshua-Ruiz fight was a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s boxing’s timeline, as it was the first major event. DAZN reported an estimated 1.8 million viewers for its pay-per-view model, which generated significant revenue. In addition, there were likely more viewers who illegally streamed the fight. This gives us a glimpse into the current state of boxing.

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou (2023)

In 2023, MMA and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou took on boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh. This fight was a clash of styles between two champions from different sports that took the world by storm. Fury was knocked down in the third round, sending a shock through the millions of fans watching the fight worldwide. Tyson Fury won a controversial split-decision. He ended up taking home a whopping 50 million USD for the fight, and Ngannou around 10 million USD. 

These massive fight purses show a significant level of interest from the promoters in advancing the sport in Saudi Arabia, as fighters like Ngannou can make millions above their average pay in the U.S.-based promotion. 2024 marked the first time in 24 years that an undisputed heavyweight boxing champion was crowned.

Fury vs Usyk (2024)

This fight was between Tyson Fury and Oleksander Usyk. It was a 12-round battle that ended with Usyk pulling it off. Fury had a strong start to the fight, but was caught with a major punch in the second half of the fight. Fury survived the punch but lost most of the subsequent rounds. The three judges gave Usyk the decision in a 2-1 split. This fight took place in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, a massive victory for the expansion of Saudi boxing. It signaled a new era in boxing, as the undefeated Tyson Fury was taken down, and for the first time in 24 years, boxing had an undisputed heavyweight champion. 

There were over 1.5 million pay-per-view purchases and a significantly higher number of viewers on illegal streams. Fury was paid around 105 million USD before sponsorships and around 40 million USD for Usyk. This fight cemented the Kingdom Arena’s place as a venue that would host big fights years into the future.

Riyadh Season

In an effort to boost Saudi Arabia’s economy, Riyadh Season was born. This annual event includes major sporting events such as the previously mentioned boxing fights, large-scale concerts, and other attractions. These attractions have transformed the Kingdom’s tourism scene and, as a result, given the country extensive media coverage. 

In addition to boxing, Riyadh season has hosted race car events and concerts by superstars such as Imagine Dragons, Pitbull, and Jennifer Lopez. These events streamline efforts to transform the entertainment world in Saudi Arabia on many levels for fans from across the world. Overall, there is a strategy behind all of this. The kingdom is often said to be reliant on oil exports, and even though this has brought immense wealth to the country, it’s been implied by leadership that it’s time for a shift towards diversifying its economic portfolio. This plan is referred to as the Vision 2030. The large-scale events of Riyadh Season have been successful considering the publicity, economic benefits, and development Saudi Arabia has gained in sports and entertainment since it launched in 2019. 

Saudi Infrastructure Expansion

The investment in boxing fits the economic expansion plan, as it is the perfect setup for large-scale infrastructure projects. Numerous large stadiums are currently under construction to host more major boxing matches and potentially World Cup matches as well. Overall, boxing promotions in Saudi Arabia go far beyond the matches themselves. They outline the strategic plan to reposition the Saudi economy as a major player in the entertainment industry.  

Riyadh Season has brought some of the most dramatic boxing moments of the 21st century in a span of less than a decade. The festival has helped globalized the sport of boxing giving it unprecedented exposure to a new market.

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