Wow, what an experience! I’ve barely caught my breath after witnessing what was constantly touted as the “GREATEST BOXING CARD” ever. The hype was relentless, courtesy of the DAZN broadcast team and the zealous Saudi media operatives who wouldn’t let us forget it for a second.
In truth, “The Last Crescendo” in Saudi Arabia was a solid lineup with seven significant bouts. However, the over-the-top marketing of it as the “best card ever” detracted from its genuine quality. A little piece of advice for Saudi figurehead Turki Alalshikh: not everything needs to be shoved down our throats as the pinnacle of achievement.
It’s no shocker to see media personalities eagerly selling out for a spot at the lavish media buffet offered by the Saudis. Watching them abandon any pretense of journalistic integrity was almost like witnessing people frantically strip off a flaming leisure suit for a quick buck.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, particularly when it involves journalists I’ve respected over the years. Losing the few ethical voices left in boxing media really shatters any remaining hope for the industry. But hey, that’s just the reality we’re dealing with now.
As someone entrenched in the boxing world, I can’t pretend, solidify, or back this takeover that might eventually wreak havoc on the sport—from fighter safety right down to the quality of matches. Yet, since my role involves covering all things boxing, I watched the event and noted a few key points from what was hailed as the greatest card.
One glaring issue perfectly encapsulating my skepticism was the 48-hour whirlwind surrounding Martin Bakole being tapped as a last-minute replacement for Joseph Parker. Bakole looked markedly out of shape and wound up being knocked out in just two rounds.
The situation was downright grotesque. Bakole was still at home in the Congo on Thursday when he was roped into the match, missing the weigh-in entirely due to his flight to Riyadh. No training camp, no proper medical or PED screenings—he didn’t even have time to shake off the jet lag.
Forget the rewritten narrative suggesting Bakole had been training or concocting a mythical 310-pound “official” weight. His appearance told the story of someone who, quite literally, was lounging with snacks on a Thursday afternoon before being whisked to face a world-class heavyweight on Saturday.
Bakole’s courage and strength weren’t enough; the odds were stacked against him in an unfair setup, and it could’ve ended much worse than it did. This situation reflects a problematic trend—working with entities beyond jurisdictional reach, lacking transparency and accountability, yet thriving on monetary persuasion.
There should be responsible adults watching over fighters to shield them from exploitative decisions. Saturday’s event clearly prioritized the spectacle over Bakole’s welfare. It’s a sobering glimpse into the Saudi boxing scheme, orchestrated by Turki Alalshikh.
Where was the responsible commission, if one exists at all?
The media compounded the issue by ignoring how poorly this was handled, instead spinning the narrative around Bakole’s perceived bravery, while knowing full well the risks involved.
Another moment reflecting the state of Saudi boxing occurred during the Carlos Adames-Hamzah Sheeraz WBC middleweight title fight. Late in the match, a visibly agitated Turki was caught instructing Sheeraz’s corner, emphasizing that they were trailing by two rounds and urging aggression.
Whether Turki was using official scorecards, some AI tally, or Chris Mannix’s DAZN scorecard is irrelevant—although accessing official scorecards would be highly unethical. What matters is that Sheeraz, a favored figure poised to become a Saudi ambassador-shaped champion, received special treatment from the event organizer.
As for the match between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev in the main event, Bivol managed to reclaim victory and all four world light heavyweight titles in an engaging rematch with more strategic play than their first bout. This sets the stage for a likely Part 3 showdown in the upcoming Riyadh Season event.
Meanwhile, David Benavidez, who was brought ringside by Turki potentially to challenge the victor of Bivol-Beterbiev, remains on standby, waiting for his opportunity at unified champion status across different weight classes.
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson was anticipated to showcase his skills against late substitute Josh Padley. However, the narrative shifted to highlight Padley’s resilience as he pushed nearly nine rounds against the far superior Stevenson despite lacking preparation time or a training camp.
Financially, this may work for Shakur, but signing with Matchroom Boxing hasn’t delivered the profile boost expected. Competing thousands of miles away before an indifferent audience isn’t the path to stardom. With uncertain big fights on the horizon, this partnership with Eddie Hearn (and Turki) feels like a pause button rather than career advancement.
An intriguing tidbit: the event had to move to a smaller venue due to “promoting a better atmosphere,” as initially reported by Boxingscene before the story was pulled. The shift from the 26,000-capacity Kingdom Arena to the intimate Venue Riyadh, which holds 8,000, speaks volumes. And even with the smaller space, it wasn’t a full house.
Did the world not get the memo about the supposed “GREATEST BOXING CARD EVER”?
Other fights occurred, but those results are easily accessible on FightNews. I have neither the time nor the desire to delve into every lowlight of the show.
Critics accuse me of bias against Turki and the Saudis, and I don’t shy away from that. My stance is akin to opposing the Klan or deterring bleach consumption. “Giving them a chance” isn’t an option when I see boxing’s shift to the Middle East damaging the sport’s global presence and putting it under the thumb of an unaccountable monarchy.
Saturday offered a preview of what’s to come: compromising fighter safety and tweaking rules to favor agendas. Unfortunately, there’s likely more to follow.
When it comes to the media, what can I say? They seem unbothered about anything beyond their own interests. I sometimes wonder if I’m too harsh on them, but occurrences like these show that, if anything, I’m not calling them out enough.
Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
