British boxing star Amir Khan believes Saudi Arabia has become a global hub for major sporting events, praising the Kingdom’s efforts in an exclusive interview with Arabian Business.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to boxing in the Kingdom, having headlined the debut international fight event in Jeddah back in 2019. But even Khan has been surprised by the speed of development in the country since.
“I have to say boxing has become huge in the Kingdom,” he told Arabian Business. Major names like Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr have all added prestige to the Saudi fight scene.
On Saturday, Khan will watch on as another epic collision headlines the Coastal Kingdom in Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou. While backing his friend Fury, Khan expects it to be “an amazing fight” that underlines Saudi’s rise on the global sporting map.
“Tyson Fury has been a friend of mine for a very long time, I’m a big supporter of his as well. As a boxing fan, I think he ticks all the boxes. It’s going to be an amazing fight and we wish him all the very best. I will be there to support him.
But Saudi’s rise on the global stage has been no accident, he said. Khan lauded the vision and drive of Turki Alalshikh for masterminding this transformation through initiatives like Riyadh Season.
“I would like to thank Alalshikh because he is the man to make this happen in Saudi Arabia. What Turki has done with all entertainment and sports is amazing to see,” he said.
“Unless you remember back in 2019, Jeddah Season, for my boxing fight, it was the first fight I ever did in Saudi Arabia, and it was a huge success,” noted Khan, adding that big sporting events and the Seasons are giving rise to so many news opportunities.
“Now, every week, you hear something new happening in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. It’s amazing to see that the whole region is booming now.”
Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports dominance
Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded its sports portfolio in 2023 through major investments totalling billions. This includes acquiring Newcastle United for $415 million in 2021 and spending hundreds of millions on football players for its local teams including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior, a $2 billion injection into LIV Golf to attract stars like Mickelson, hosting combat sports events like Joshua fights, and continuing its Formula 1 Grand Prix since 2021 as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) diversifies into various leagues and teams globally through significant sovereign wealth.
More specifically, for boxing, the kingdom hosted several high-profile fights in recent years. Notable events include Callum Smith defeating George Groves by knockout for the WBA super-middleweight title in 2018, Anthony Joshua regaining his heavyweight belts by decision in his 2019 rematch with Andy Ruiz in Diriyah, and YouTube star Jake Paul’s fight against Tommy Fury in Riyadh earlier this year.
“That shows how Riyadh Season, Saudi seasons, are pushing big sporting events. It’s amazing to see companies going to Saudi Arabia and giving opportunities.”
But it’s not just about hosting megastars. For Khan, what excites him most is Saudi’s emphasis on nurturing future generations of athletes from the ground up.
As a new investor focused on health through WOW Hydrate MENA, Khan said he is eager to establish boxing gyms, an academy, and supplement brands within the Kingdom in the hopes of inspiring the next wave of talent.
“My biggest dream is to open academies in Saudi to give kids the opportunity to try boxing, football – and provide the nutrition,” Khan revealed.
It’s a vision that aligns perfectly with the kingdom’s goals, especially those under Vision 2030. For Khan, however, it’s also personal – a chance to repay the support his father gave in kickstarting his own career.
“Take your kids to sport and push them like my dad pushed me,” he urged Saudi parents. It’s a message that clearly resonates in a society now fully embracing wellness.
Diverse gym culture: Khan’s impact
Khan’s influence stretches even wider as well. As one of the first British Asian athletes to achieve the sport’s highest levels, he takes pride in greater diversity today.
Gyms across the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, now reflect the multi-ethnic reality across the region.
“I remember the times when I used to train and box, there were no Asians or South Asian boxers, but now, when you go to the gym, it’s full of South Asian boxers and Arabic boxers – a mixture of everything. It’s amazing to see that, because back when I was training, it was never like that,” he recalled.
Though retired, fighting’s addictive pull remains, he said, with Saudi potentially reeling him back in for one final bout.
“There’s massive talk about me coming back and fighting again. To be honest with you, it’s one of them things, when you’re a fighter, you have that bug in you that you want to go back in there. When I see these big fights like Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou happening on the weekend, I’ll think to myself: wow, I want to do this again,” he revealed.
“Who knows, maybe I’ll do another big fight now with Saudi Arabia opening up in boxing. Let’s see where life takes me. At the moment, I’m happily retired but maybe I could make a comeback and do an exhibition [in Saudi Arabia].”
“I’m only 36 years old so I feel like a young spring chicken.”
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