In the latest high-profile moves of Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Season has announced partnerships with Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions.
The collaboration between Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions will begin with the interim WBC junior middleweight clash between champion Serhii Bohachuk 24-1, 23 KOs, and the undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) on Saturday August 10 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
That comes a week on from the Riyadh Season bow in the USA on August 3 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, headlined by the clash between Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov for the WBA junior middleweight title, with Eminem performing before the main event.
A Top Rank social media post announced they would work together on 12 Top Rank events, through the remainder of 2024 and in 2025: “The partnership will use the power and reach of both organizations to elevate the sport. Riyadh Season will have a presence across a host of Top Rank bills, both in the build-up and on fight night,” a press release said.
Riyadh Season in the past year has hosted some of boxing’s biggest cards, including the first undisputed heavyweight title fight of the 21st century between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.