Four-time super middleweight world champion Carl Froch has given his thoughts on rumors this week that Turki Al Al-Shikh is looking to buy a major boxing organization. If bought, the Saudi Arabian boxer would like to set up his own league, similar to UFC, to ensure the biggest fights possible are held there, but Froch has doubts.
Al Al Siq's involvement over the past nine months has marked a turning point for the sport, with major events becoming regular fixtures and matches that once seemed impossible to realise becoming official at the touch of a button.
Al Al-Shikh is now believed to be involved in an unprecedented move to completely change the foundations of professional boxing, introducing a league that would crown one champion per weight class and pit the world's biggest stars against each other.
However, Carl Froch declared on his YouTube channel that he believes the egos and passions of key figures in the sport make the bid seem highly unrealistic. Whether the proposed transaction involves money.
“of course, [change the landscape of boxing]How much money does he have? Five billion! That's just a full-fledged Bunsen burner. [money]Would Oscar De La Hoya, Al Haymon, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn sell their boxing businesses? I think they would get involved in bigger things and if the money was right they would probably all agree. £5 billion would be a good price.
“Oscar De La Hoya is doing what he wants to do. Eddie Hearn is in the sport because he loves boxing and is passionate about it. Who is Eddie Hearn without boxing, without being a boxing promoter? What does he have? It's his identity and his passion for the sport.”
“I could retire, sail off into the sunset, settle down, relax, never work again and put on my pipe and slippers, but I can't do that. I want to be involved in boxing, I'm busy with property, I've got kids. I don't think that's going to happen. I don't think it's realistic for everyone to sell their businesses.”
“Do I like the idea? It's like Turki Al-Alshikh is trying to be the next Dana White, but can boxing function as a league? The heavyweights make a lot of money and individuals in boxing make more. Look at Canelo Alvarez or Floyd Mayweather, they make a lot more than anybody else. If everyone is in the same pot, I don't see how you can separate it and make it work.”
“If there was a boxing league and it worked out and came to fruition, it would be great to see how it would work out financially for the fighters, but I know there are a lot of UFC fighters out there who aren't getting paid what they're worth.”
While these rumours may just be the beginning, the next news expected from Al Al-Sikh will be an official announcement regarding the Anthony Joshua card at Wembley Stadium, with the press conference scheduled to take place on Wednesday 26th June.
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