YOUTUBE boxing is to be BLOCKED from coming to Saudi Arabia.
In recent years, mega-money bouts have been prised over to the Middle East, with Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder all involved.
But no influence has been bigger than His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi.
He is in control of boxing in the region and has managed to even have feuding promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren work together.
His Excellency wants everyone in the sport to collaborate – but it will not cross over to the new age of influencer boxing.
He told DAZN: “Please, we don’t want any YouTuber fight again. I don’t talk about names.
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“I want fighters, I want fighters, this is what I support.”
It could come as a blow to the likes of KSI, Jake Paul and Tommy Fury.
Fury, 24, last year beat both the social media sensations and remains linked with rematches.
His grudge match with Paul, 27, was even staged in Riyadh and saw him win a split-decision.
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American Paul has since distanced himself from the crossover boxing scene to head into a more traditional route.
His last fight was against professional boxer Andre August, 35, which he won by first-round knockout.
Paul returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming and will do so against another boxer.
KSI, 30, is meanwhile taking time away from the sport following his controversial loss to Fury.
But he will always be in line for a blockbuster bout with Paul following years of feuding between the pair.
They were even in talks to fight in Saudi in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic KO’d those plans.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
