A dream agreement
British boxing promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have just shaken hands over a deal that could make fans of the sport very happy.
The pair came face to face in Saudi Arabia on Monday to confirm the news that Anthony Joshua will face Francis Ngannou on March 8. During the press conference, they agreed to arrange a fight night in the same country later this year that would include five bouts, half of the fighters from Warren’s corner and half from Hearn’s.
a potential match up that boxing fans have demanded for years
It’s a prospect that has boxing fans’ tongues wagging given the fighters that each promoter has in their arsenals. Perhaps most notably, British boxing powerhouses Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are represented by the opposing promoters, a potential match up that boxing fans have demanded for years.
Regardless of who ends up taking part in the fights, Warren is evidently confident his team can come out on top. He told the Daily Mail that he would place a ￡1m ($1.3m) bet with Hearn on the outcome of the night.
Two possible bouts
Now that Warren and Hearn have agreed to organize a dream night for boxing fans, speculation is rife regarding the fights that could take place. Taking a look at the fighters belonging to Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, it is clear who the most exciting prospects would be.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
This one has been a long time coming. The British rivals Joshua and Fury have flirted with a fight for years but something (or someone) has always got in the way. Joshua seemed locked on a collision course with Fury before a shock loss to Andy Ruiz in 2019 derailed his career.
a lot of stars need to align for this to finally take place
That career is now seemingly back on track, but Joshua will need to see off Ngannou in March. Fury will also need to beat WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in February. Basically, a lot of stars need to align for this to finally take place.
Filip Hrgovic vs Daniel Dubois
In another hotly anticipated heavyweight matchup, Filip Hrgovic could take on Daniel Dubois. The former is ranked no.1 by the IBF and defeated Mark de Mori in an emphatic fashion at the end of 2023, seeing him off in just two minutes.
Meanwhile, Brit Daniel Dubois has had a difficult journey to the top, having lost to both Joe Joyce and Usyk. However, he defeated Jarrell Miller in the closing seconds of their ten round bout in December and could be a good match for Hrgovic who is yet to have a proper test.
The new home of boxing
Many sports fans have accused Saudi Arabia of sportswashing. In July last year, The Guardian reported that Saudi Arabia has spent $6.3bn on sports deals since early 2021. Critics suggest this is an attempt to distract onlookers from its human rights record, including the murder of journalists, the criminalization of homosexuality, and poor treatment of women.
YouTuber Jake Paul fought Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury in Riyadh
A major part of the kingdom’s investment comes via boxing. Last year, YouTuber Jake Paul fought Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury in Riyadh for payments of $3.2m and $2m, respectively. In December, the ‘Day of Reckoning’ fight night featured Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder as headliners.
Outside of boxing, Saudia Arabia’s top soccer league now features a wide range of famous players, including Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Neymar Jr, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, LIV Golf is a new rival to the PGA Tour that is funded by Saudi Arabia. The league has succeeded in poaching Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Lee Westwood by providing substantial cash offers.