Turki's Fatal Fury weekend fatally flawed

[Ledhed1]

Three bullet points that summarize why Turki's plan is misguided.

• Events devoid of atmosphere. As Teofimo's fight ended Friday, I wondered if I was watching the fight from Riyadh. The lack of energy around the ring reminded me of the deadness surrounding the fights held in Saudi. How do you stage an event in the middle of Times Square and achieve an energy level barely above zero? Somehow Turki pulled it off. There were next to no fans in the vicinity of the ring. The attendees were all VIP invitees of Turki. You constantly see people milling about, chatting ringside during fights. Turki treats these events like private parties. And, the lack of energy affects the fighters' performances. Garcia said as much himself. So, there's Turki (above) leaning on the ring apron during Canelo-Scull demanding more action. You reap what you sow, Your Excellency.
• Saturday's card ran from 2AM to 7AM in Riyadh. They've had main events that ended around 2 or 3AM, and the atmosphere there was bad enough. This was extreme. How do you expect a crowd that's even half awake and fighters to bring their A games under these conditions? If they knew they were going to accommodate North American TV, why bother having it in Riyadh? That anyone thought  this was worth a try even one time is baffling.
• Boxers knowing what fight they have next is a recipe for disaster. Haney, Garcia and Canelo all had their next fights planned before this past weekend. Haney and Canelo fought like it. (Garcia had the fight beaten out of him when he was knocked down.) Haney and Canelo figured they could get by while minimizing risk, and they were right. Don't expect your fighter to put on a show if you've told him what's next will break the bank. Outsmarting yourself, Turki.

Turki sure likes the word 'fury' in his promotions. Is he trying to send someone a hint?

TopRank surely enjoyed running the bell lap on the weekend. They were downright giddy reminding us how bad the two earlier events were. Promoters - and their obedient commentators - throwing their rivals under the bus doesn't do the industry any good. Like all the bickering among Warren, Hearn and Shalom. Infantile. One of many reasons the industry has fallen into the gutter.

Turki? Rolling in dollars but very little sense.

[selij]

He's on a takeover, mark my words, boxing will become a franchise like F1 and the UFC - under his directorship.

Hearn and Warren are becoming his lapdogs, and the alphabet bodies will be superfluous very soon.

The only good thing to come of it will be one champion, one division, and the best must fight the best to win. No chess games and ducking and diving and swerving opponents either.

And as regards Top Rank, they haven't even got a tv or streaming outlet any more after the current ESPN deal ends imminently, and Turki is well aware of this too.

Edited May 8 by selij

[Cableaddict]

On 5/8/2025 at 4:49 PM, selij said:

 

The only good thing to come of it will be one champion, one division, and the best must fight the best to win. No chess games and ducking and diving and swerving opponents either.

 

Well,  yeah....   but that's one heckuva' single good thing !

 

I agree with Ledhed's points, of course. I was particularly bothered but some guest Standing with his back to the ring,  chatting with Turki et all, while a fight was happening.  IIRC, it was even the 12th round.    

STILL,  IMO the sport of boxing is in a much better place with Turki involved, than without him.  He's new at this, give him time.

[repsac]

That entire event in NYC was a shit show. 

I hung around the hotel, and went to the presser on wednesday, then checked out the BWAA event. Was about to meet several fighters, got some things ed, etc. 

Fight day, was so chaotic, Duran's daughter was telling me how disorganized everything was, and how everything seemed like a photo op for attention.  

no one could attend the fights, so we watched it at Dave n Busters, i ended up hanging out with John Scully, Poison Jones and Lonnie Bradley.