close
close

Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh slits Anthony Joshua's throat during his loss to Daniel Dubois

Your support helps us tell the story

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support allows me to be in the room and push for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we would not have the tools to challenge those in power.

Your donation will enable us to continue this important work and keep you informed every step of the way leading up to the election in November.

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi Arabian king behind some of the biggest boxing matches in the world, appeared unhappy to watch Anthony Joshua suffer a spectacular defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.

Dubois sent his compatriot to the ground with a stinging right in the first round, the referee counted to eight and the 27-year-old tore up the pre-fight predictions just as quickly as he finished off his opponent.

Joshua, 34, suffered another defeat in round two but managed to weather the storm before round three came back to haunt him. As Dubois landed more sharp right hooks, Joshua was literally on the ropes before being saved by the bell.

Daniel Dubois knocks Anthony Joshua down in the fifth round.
Daniel Dubois knocks Anthony Joshua down in the fifth round. (Getty Images)

He could barely stand at the end of the fourth round after going down again with two minutes to go, and then in the fifth round it was all over and the painstaking rebuilding of his career was suddenly in tatters. After landing some promising punches, all signs of resistance disappeared when Joshua went down with a right hook to the upper jaw. The former IBF, WBA and IBO champion was unable to get back on his feet this time.

Alalshikh staged the fight as part of Saudi Arabia's aggressive assault on the sport, with billions of dollars invested in organizing global events both in the Saudi capital Riyadh and, increasingly, in major venues around the world.

But his plans to eventually pit Joshua against Tyson Fury – in one of the most lucrative and highly anticipated fights in heavyweight boxing history – appear to be in tatters after Joshua was so easily defeated by the younger Brit.

Turki Alalshikh appears to be gesticulating at the camera during the fight
Turki Alalshikh appears to be gesticulating at the camera during the fight (Sky Sports)

As the camera panned to the ring between rounds, a somber-looking Alalshikh appeared to make a gesture as if he were about to slit the cameraman's throat, as if to tell him not to focus on him. The live feed quickly switched back to a shot of the ring.

Alalshikh will be hoping to have better luck in the next big heavyweight fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Fury. Usyk won the original fight in Riyadh in May by split decision and the two will meet again in December.

“The rematch between undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk and champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled for December 21, 2024 during the Riyadh season,” Alalshikh wrote on X at the time.

“The world will once again see a historic fight… Our commitment to boxing fans continues. We hope you enjoy it.”

You may also like...