TURKI ALALSHIKH has spoken of some plans for more events in the 2025 Riyadh season, including a potentially historic world heavyweight title fight.
The President of the General Entertainment Authority has already signed a massive seven-fight card on February 22nd headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
During his chat on DAZN’s Ariel & Ade Show – with co-hosts Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo – he touched on another potential 5v5 event in May, pitting Queensberry against Matchroom. The alternative could be a 6v6 with the two British promotional powers against American giants Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions.
However, something else of greater historical significance could come into play. That, however, depends on the outcome of the world heavyweight title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21. If Usyk wins, there is every chance that the great Ukrainian will retire from boxing. One of his countrymen, however, may be given a chance to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history if Tyson Fury wins.
“A lot of people are waiting for the result of Tyson and Usyk,” explained Alalshikh.
“One of them is Dubois, there is also Joshua and there is a third person. I dream to see this fight, to give (Wladimir) Klitschko a chance – if he accepts – to come back and have a chance to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever.”
Wladimir Klitschko. (Getty Images)
Wladimir Klitschko will celebrate his 49th birthdayu birthday on March 25, 2025, which is four years older than that of George Foreman, who on November 5, 1994, famously knocked out Michael Moorer to win the WBA and IBF titles in Las Vegas. Foreman dedicated his upset victory to “all my friends in the nursing home and all the guys in prison.”
Klitschko is no stranger to Fury having faced the Briton in November 2015. The Ukrainian lost the unified heavyweight titles after Fury’s mind games and incredible performance defeated the seemingly unstoppable champion. His last fight came nearly two years later at the age of 41 at Wembley Stadium against IBF champion Anthony Joshua. Klitschko’s last stand was a brave knockdown of ‘AJ’ in the sixth round, but he was later stopped on his feet by referee David Fields in the 11u.
