Turki Alalshikh asked for the top 10 fights to make, so here's my take
These are the best bouts he can try to arrange the rest of this year, next
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In a recent social media post, Turki Alalshikh, who overseas the lavish spending on sports and entertainment by the Saudi Arabian government — but is also a diehard boxing fan — asked for some help in making matches.
“Suggest for me 10 fights in boxing you want to see in 2024 and 2025,” Alalshikh asked.
With his seemingly unlimited budget, nothing is off the table. If he wants it, he has the resources to pay for it, which is why many of the biggest fights are now happening (especially at heavyweight) on a regular basis on major Riyadh Season cards in Saudi Arabia but also now branching out to the United States with a card on Aug. 3 and one coming up on Sept. 21 in the United Kingdom.
I am here to help His Excellency with my thoughts on 10 fights he should pursue, keeping in mind that the promotional and broadcaster conflicts that once made many fights unthinkable no longer seem to be an issue because Alalshikh’s money and manner have persuaded adversaries to work well with each other. In fact, the cards Alalshikh has been involved in have seen numerous promoters work together and every major promoter has been involved at least here and there: Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions, Top Rank, Golden Boy and TGB Promotions/Premier Boxing Champions.
I hope Alalshikh is paying attention. Here is my wish list countdown style:
10. Christian Mbilli vs. Jaime Munguia
This is a guaranteed super middleweight banger between punchers with tremendously fan friendly styles. There is almost no chance this would not be a terrific fight not to mention one between two of the best in the division. Mbilli is coming off an entertaining but one-sided beat down of longtime contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko on Aug. 17 and Munguia, coming off a spirited decision loss challenging champion Canelo Alvarez in May, is set to face unbeaten Erik Bazinyan on Sept. 20. Mbilli and Munguia are both now with Top Rank and good news is that the company has this match on its drawing board assuming the favored Munguia is successful in his Top Rank debut against Bazinyan.
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