Riyadh Season: A Global Boxing Legacy
Riyadh, November 03, 2026, SPA -- Riyadh Season’s boxing events have left a mark that extends beyond the final bell. They have brought together leading champions, decided world titles and helped write new chapters in the sport’s history. From Riyadh to Los Angeles, London and Las Vegas, and on to the Pyramids of Giza, the Season has presented major fights and sponsored landmark events watched by large audiences in arenas and on screen.
Together, these contests have combined sporting significance with strong attendance and international reach, delivering results that have shaped fighters’ careers and the world title landscape. Among the highlights of Riyadh Season’s seventh edition was “Mexico vs. The World,” headlined by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Christian Mbilli.
Riyadh: Where World Titles Were Unified
On May 18, 2024, Kingdom Arena in Riyadh hosted Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in “Ring of Fire.” Usyk won by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion.
The result marked a milestone in boxing history. Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 and the first to hold all four major world titles in the division: those of the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).
The Riyadh Season contest ended a wait of nearly a quarter of a century for an undisputed heavyweight champion, reinforcing the Saudi capital’s position as a destination for fights that decide the sport’s biggest titles.
At light heavyweight, the Season presented two meetings between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed world championship. Their first contest, in October 2024, ended with Beterbiev winning by majority decision after 12 rounds to unify the division’s world titles.
The pair met again in Riyadh in February 2025, headlining “The Last Crescendo.” This time, Bivol won by majority decision to claim the undisputed championship. Across two closely contested fights, audiences watched two of the division’s leading boxers battle for supremacy, with both crowned undisputed champions in Riyadh.
From Los Angeles to Wembley
On August 3, 2024, “Riyadh Season Card” brought the Season to Los Angeles for its first boxing event outside Saudi Arabia. American Terence Crawford faced Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov in the main event at BMO Stadium.
Crawford won by unanimous decision to claim the WBA super welterweight title and become a world champion in four weight divisions. The event marked a step in Riyadh Season’s international expansion while adding another major achievement to the career of one of boxing’s leading fighters.
On September 21 that year, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois met at London’s Wembley Stadium in “Riyadh Season Card: Wembley Edition,” drawing 96,000 spectators.
Dubois retained his IBF heavyweight world title with a fifth-round knockout. The crowd demonstrated the appeal of Riyadh Season’s boxing events in a market with a long sporting tradition and an established fan base, bringing the Season’s name to one of the world’s most famous stadiums.
Las Vegas: A Major Draw in the Arena and on Screen
On September 13, 2025, Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford met in Las Vegas for the undisputed super middleweight world championship. The contest between two of boxing’s biggest names ended with Crawford winning by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
The event drew 70,482 spectators to Allegiant Stadium and generated more than $47 million in ticket revenue, setting a gate revenue record for the venue.
The fight also recorded 41 million views on Netflix, ranked No. 1 on the platform in 30 countries and reached its Top 10 in 91 countries, demonstrating its international appeal.
“Glory in Giza”: Boxing at the Pyramids
Riyadh Season’s presence also extended to Egypt as sponsor of “Glory in Giza,” held at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, 2026. Jointly organized by Matchroom and The Ring, the event featured Usyk against Dutch fighter Rico Verhoeven in the headline contest.
Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight world title with an 11th-round technical knockout. The Pyramids provided a distinctive backdrop to the world championship contest, adding a striking visual dimension to another major event sponsored by Riyadh Season outside Saudi Arabia.
“Mexico vs. The World”: The Legacy Continues
“Mexico vs. The World,” headlined by Canelo Álvarez and Christian Mbilli during Riyadh Season’s seventh edition, added another chapter to that legacy. Canelo reclaimed the WBC super middleweight title with victory over Mbilli after a hard-fought 12-round contest.
The bout pitted the experience of Canelo, a four-division world champion, against Mbilli’s determination to retain his title. Their competitive encounter ended with the Mexican star regaining the belt and adding another achievement to his career in the Saudi capital.
From world titles unified in Riyadh to packed stands at Wembley and in Las Vegas, and millions watching on screen, Riyadh Season has built its boxing presence through high-stakes contests with broad audience appeal. “Mexico vs. The World” carried that approach into its seventh edition.
-- SPA
