Warren, Hearn Blast “Disgraceful” Criticism Of Loving, Generous Turki Alalshikh

A single tear trickled down my cheek as an impassioned Frank Warren, speaking at the Beterbiev-Bivol press conference, chastised all of us Negative Nancies for beating up on poor Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia’s glorious Riyadh Season efforts.

What have I been doing with myself these last few months? Taking swipes at a sweet, generous man in Turki who only wanted to help boxing, its fans, and its athletes. And only because of some inconsequential beheadings, murdering of journalists, and some human rights abuses. Hell, I bet some of those people spending their lives in Saudi prisons for Tweeting negativity really did deserve to be there.

And who am I to point out the Saudi/Turki power plays that could very well push the sport into any number of existential crises, just for the sake of making some fights that totally could’ve (and should’ve) been made by promoters who, ultimately, had to be bribed by Saudi money to actually make them?

My God. I am ashamed. Let Warren’s scathing words wash over me like holy water.

Negativity Makes Frank Warren Sad

“Why is there criticism here? I don’t get this whatsoever. A small minority of people complaining about a national anthem [the Saudi national anthem] being played ? The clue is in the name. It’s called Riyadh Season. That’s why we were at Wembley. Because they enabled that huge event to be made. As Eddie said, and as I know…these types of events would not be able to be made without their [the Saudis’] financial input.”

Yes. Warren and Hearn could never have put on a show like Joshua-Dubois and could never have staged it at Wembley Stadium. NEVER. Well, unless you want to go WAY back to 2022 when Warren’s show, headlined by Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Wyte, drew 94,000 fans at Wembley.

The difference, though, is that Turki wasn’t around to sprinkle his magic Turki Bucks all over the promotion (and promoters) while radiating super Saudi positivity.

Media, Bad; Murderous Monarchy, Good

“And it’s because of the love of boxing from His Excellency and the fact that he’s chairman of Riyadh Season has made that happen,” Warren continued, increasingly incensed. “And the fans there– were they disappointed? Did you hear anybody moaning about the event? The only people you hear moaning about it were people who were not included or maybe had a meeting canceled…[and] it put their nose out of joint….It’s ridiculous.”

Bad, jealous media. Typical. The butchering of journalists really is kind of understandable when you think about it.

“This has been brilliant for boxing,” added Warren. “This is something special and it’s happening because of Riyadh Season…And these guys [pointing to the fighters on the stage] are getting well paid for it as well. Big money. Big money in the most dangerous of sports, getting paid great purses. What is there to complain about? The fans are doing well. The boxers are doing well. And, yes, by the way, we’re doing well. We work hard. That’s what we do. We’re professionals. And I’m certainly not giving apologies for anything that’s happened. It’s been brilliant for British boxing.

It’s just disgraceful that people are picking at stuff after such a sensational night on Saturday. A sensational night that all the fans loved….I don’t get all this nonsense, all this negativity. This is brilliant…I can’t believe some of the people and some of the things that are being said. If you feel so bad about it, don’t attend.”

And if I didn’t feel bad enough already, Eddie Hearn then joined in.

Eddie Hearn With The Sportswashing Assist

“I still can’t understand the negativity and moans from some people,” Hearn scolded. “What we saw last week was a culmination of a passion for sport that His Excellency has, a man that listened to the fight fans and went above and beyond to deliver for British fight fans…No one could’ve put on an event like that…I can’t believe I’m saying it, but that includes me, that includes Frank, and we all acknowledge that.

“What we have seen over the last year has changed the face of the sport. It’s benefited everybody in this room. Particularly, and most importantly, the fighters, who have had THE fights that can define their legacy, have had THE fights that could financially secure their future. And, as promoters, we’re all starting to see what working together can do for the sport.”

Lessons learned. Pay the fighters well and make fights that are supposed to be made. Noted. It only took Hearn and Warren a combined 60 years in the business to figure that out– and only after figurative satchels of blood money figuratively showed up at their figurative doorstep.

But a lesson learned is a lesson learned, myself included. All of this mean-spirited aggression. The insults. The bullying. The unreasonable demands for truth, accountability and the silly, silly talk of right and wrong. What the hell were we all thinking?

I guess it took a Turki to show us the way.