SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 19: GERVONTA DAVIS VS. DEVIN HANEY IN SAUDI ARABIA AS PLANNED
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Jan 2024
Saudi Arabia could be the Mecca of great fights which the fans are looking for, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment and Adviser at the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia, announcing that he is planning of bringing "The Face of Boxing" Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney to his country for a multi-million dollar fight this year.
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Alalshikh says he has already sent a message to Davis' manager, Al Haymon of PBC, to inform him of his desire in making a Haney-Davis fight happen in Saudi Arabia. “I want him [Gervonta Davis], and I send a message now to Al Haymon – let’s do the job, brother. I want to see Haney in my country. I will try to do it in 2024,” said His Excellency Turki Alalshikh to DAZN Boxing as quoted by Boxing 24.
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Alalshikh has the potential to organize blockbuster fights, and there’s a great possibility that he could work with PBC to arrange a deal between Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) and Haney (31-0, 15 KOs). Saudi Arabia has transformed into a haven of the biggest fights, so far in the heavyweight bouts.
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His Excellency Alalshikh thinks that boxing has been in decline since the 70s and 80s when it was one of the top sports in the world.
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Alalshikh’s idea to improve boxing is to make it more enticing for the younger audience by enhancing the presentation, using enticing music, adding more cameras like in the UFC, sponsoring electrifying events with exciting fights.
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“In the 70s and 80s, the sport No. 1 in the world was boxing. Now, I’m very sad with the last result I had before we go deeper. Boxing is 14th,” said His Excellency Turki Alalshikh to DAZN Boxing.
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Milwaukee Bucks main man Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers franchise player LeBron James lead the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, in the final results of the fan voting for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.
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In the Western Conference, James and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić led the frontcourt votes, while Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić and Golden State Warriors veteran star guard Stephen Curry led the votes among guards.
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In the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid led the frontcourt votes, while Indiana Pacers rising star Tyrese Haliburton and Atlanta Hawks guard hero Trae Young led the voting among guards.
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Fans will count for 50 percent of the vote to determine the All-Star Game starters, while current NBA players and the media votes account for 25 percent each.
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Sports History: January 19, 2000. Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships as a player, returned to the NBA, and he joined the Washington Wizards as part owner and President of Basketball Operations.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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