"Turki is Changing the Game": Lou DiBella on the Organizer’s Impact on Boxing

Renowned American promoter Lou DiBella has shared his thoughts on the influence of Turki Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, on the sport of boxing.

According to DiBella, Alalshikh isn’t interested in preserving the traditional governing structures of the sport. Instead, he is working to bring key players under his control, gradually shifting the power dynamics in boxing.

"I respect the fact that Turki is putting together the fights he actually wants to see. He’s pouring in crazy amounts of money and making fights happen that might seem commercially unviable. But the fact is—he has been actively supporting boxing for the past few years.

I don’t believe Turki Alalshikh is doing this to maintain the existing system. What’s the fundamental rule of business, brother? If you want to remove someone and change the game, what’s the simplest way to do it?

You take power away from those who have it, make them dependent on you—essentially buy them out. That way, you’re in a much stronger position to either eliminate them or completely reshape the system," DiBella stated.