TURKI ALALSHIKH is working on bringing an incredible boxing card to Alcatraz Prison.
The Saudi boxing chief wants WBO and Ring junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez to defend his belts at the infamous setting.
Alcatraz Island is situated around a mile offshore of San Francisco and housed an infamous prison between 1859 and 1963.
The site is now home to a museum, but Alalshikh, 43, wants to bring world class championship boxing to the former prison site in June or July.
Speaking to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, he asked: “What do you think if there is [an] event, fight in Alcatraz jail one day?”
According to The Ring, acquired by Alalshikh last year, a deal is close for Lopez to defend his belts on Alcatraz Island.
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The event would be part of a three-fight collaboration between Top Rank and The Ring, under the banner of the latter.
An opponent has not yet been confirmed.
Alcatraz held several high-profile inmates prior to being closed as a prison due to its high operating costs.
These included infamous gangster Al Capone.
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Alcatraz is not the only incredibly ambitious venue that Alalshikh is targeting.
Among them are the Colosseum in Rome and even at ancient pyramids.
Speaking to ESPN, he added: “You know, sometimes I get in my mind I want different places to do [fights].
“Sometimes in mountains, maybe someday in the Pyramids in Mexico, someday in [the] Eiffel Tower in France, [The] Colosseum in Italy.
“You understand this concept?”
Constructed nearly 2,000 years ago, the Colosseum hosted several Roman sports events, including gladiator games and wild animal hunts.
In 2023 UFA chief Dana White attempted to stage an MMA bout between tech rivals Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk at the Colosseum, only for the match-up to fall through.
The Mexican Pyramids, meanwhile, have hosted live music events but no sporting encounters to date.
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Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower, meanwhile, was the backdrop to the volleyball event at the 2024 Olympics last summer.
Lopez last fought in June last year, when he defeated Steve Claggett via unanimous decision in Miami.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
