Do Canelo and Gervonta Davis need Turki Alalshikh?

Written by Daniele D'Alessio

CANELO Alvarez and Gervonta Davis are pound-for-pound heavyweights, yet they have never worked with Turki Alalshikh.

There are just over two months left until the one year anniversary of the Riyadh Season in boxing. Ever since Tyson Fury fought Francis Ngannou in the 'Battle of the Worst' on October 28, 2023, Saudi's grip on the sport has tightened like an Olympian holding on to a gold medal. For many, his professional involvement revolutionized professional boxing.

Best-of-the-best fights, undercards lined with 50-50 matchups, and other famous boxers competing regularly – life was put on a tightrope.

One where die-hard fans got the 'big fight' but were often left frustrated by the business of banning boxing or delaying more super bouts from happening. Meanwhile, casual fans sometimes struggled to fully invest in a show about boxers they didn't know, without a compelling narrative or rivalries.

In addition, despite the majority of the Riyadh Season taking place in the Middle East, Turki has put together a stacked card on US soil with Terence Crawford, Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller all present on August 3. Then, on September 21, Anthony Joshua faces Daniel Dubois. for the IBF Heavyworld title at Wembley Stadium as part of Riyadh season.

Indeed, some would argue Saudi involvement is turning boxing into a bit of a UFC. Although instead of Dana White as the leading single, he has Turki and top promoters like Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren, Oscar De La Hoya, and Bob Arum. And instead of all the fights being shown on ESPN in the US and TNT Sports in the UK, everything is broadcast on DAZN around the world.

But unlike the UFC, being a cash cow gives you the freedom to do whatever business you choose. Anthony Joshua has been disturbed by having a long contract with Matchroom. But only with his status can he work with any promoter or broadcaster when negotiating the specific fund for a particular fight.

In fact, there is only one person who earns more than Joshua inside the boxing ring and that is Canelo. After leaving Golden Boy and De La Hoya in 2020 to become a free agent, Canelo has been like a monkey swinging from tree to tree, always looking for the best fruit. It doesn't matter which branches he breaks, there is always another route he can follow because of the commercial value he offers.

However, last week we saw a fight for positions in boxing royalty. Turki was open about matching Canelo against Terence Crawford until the American moved up to 154 lbs and did enough to beat Israil Madrimov to become a four-division world champion. After announcing his new disdain for Canelo-Crawford, the Mexican star told Turki that he was the boss and negotiations would be done on his terms.

All of a sudden, the boxing community saw the first signs of hostility from his protege, who retorted that Canelo has not been interested in tough fights since his convincing loss to Dmitry Bivol in 2022. to face Crawford and David Benavidez.

After several successful cards featuring elite fighters, Turki has become accustomed to putting together fights that most fans want to see. This includes Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk which produced the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Also, one of the most anticipated fights of the year between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for all 175 lbs belts on October 12.

Turki moved into boxing to end politics, successfully uniting former arch-enemies Hearn and Warren. However his recent online spat with Canelo may show that he doesn't have all the power and may need to play second fiddle to a few boxers at the top.

Besides, Canelo only needs Turki in one fight – Benavidez. The Guadalajara-born contender has reportedly asked for $200 million to share the ring with him and a price no other promoter can offer. However, if Canelo decides to try to take the world title in the fifth weight division as a cruiserweight, it is possible that he could seek more compensation from the Saudis.

As for Davis, he once said that Turkey needs to send two Ferraris to compete in the Middle East. His beauty backfired by being given two gloves instead. Tank is not on the same commercial level as Canelo, yet this was another example of a cash cow refusing to comply with Turki's suggestions.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 15: WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis stands with referee Harvey Dock after defeating Frank Martin in the title defense at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis retained his title with an eighth-round knockout. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Davis doesn't swing from branch to branch like Canelo, but he is a bee that can get a lot of honey in the PBC way. The puncher from Baltimore is one of the biggest stars in America and after being the main event in his last ten fights, Davis made millions of dollars. The Davis-Garcia fight broke PPV records by grossing over $100 million.

So, much like Canelo, Davis may only need to work on his beauty if he wants more compensation for a more dangerous fight. Shakur Stevenson is considered the strongest opponent available for Tank. Time will tell if Davis gets the Saudis involved to make it happen.

To summarize, Turki Alalshikh has undoubtedly had a positive impact on boxing. However, those who benefited most from his positive involvement would be the boxers who were not receiving life-changing purses and career-defining opportunities. One example is Martin Bakole, who captured his best win against Jared Anderson and is likely to feature on more Riyadh Season cards.

But for Canelo and Davis, who have the luxury of choosing any opponent they want while generating huge purses, the season in Riyadh may always be different for them. However, if everyone works together in boxing, the night will be more memorable for the fans.