Turki Alalshikh: "No More Tom and Jerry-Style Fights"

Turki Alalshikh, head of the General Entertainment Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has announced a new direction for future events under Riyadh Season and The Ring banner.

"From now on, I no longer want to see Tom and Jerry-style boxing fights, where one fighter just runs around the ring and the other chases after him. We can no longer support such fights under the Riyadh Season and The Ring. We want to support fighters who leave everything in the ring and fight with heart and pride," wrote Turki.

His statement comes amid a wave of criticism following May’s boxing events in Times Square (New York) and Riyadh, where several main events — including bouts featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Canelo Alvarez — failed to meet fan and media expectations.