Boxing’s Shifting Landscape During Fight Week In Las Vegas; Fight Capital Has Powerful Competitor With Saudi Arabia Securing Fight Events
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By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportsBiz.com Boxing Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Las Vegas has long been the fight capital of the world, hosting generations of boxing superstars from Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather.
But the global boxing landscape is shifting, with Saudi Arabia aggressively securing major events and challenging Vegas’ dominance.
David Benavidez prepares to face David Morrell at T-Mobile Arena Saturday, the fight broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. It’s more than just a high-stakes super middleweight clash. It’s another test of Las Vegas’ standing as the ultimate stage for boxing’s biggest moments.
In the past 18 months, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a billion-dollar force in boxing, with the backing of Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season banner attracting the biggest names in the sport.
Fighters like Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, and former bankable Vegas name Tyson Fury have headlined in Saudi Arabia. With the kingdom aggressively securing high-profile bouts, many have questioned whether Las Vegas is losing its grip as the go-to location for boxing’s biggest nights.
At 28, Benavidez is not just an undefeated, two-time WBC super middleweight champion — the man they call “The Monster.” He understands the business of boxing and what it means to headline in Las Vegas.
“When you think about Las Vegas and these big fights, you think about Mayweather fights, Pacquiao fights,” Benavidez told LVSportsBiz.com. “Now, I feel good knowing all of my fights are exclusively in Las Vegas. I’m that Las Vegas kid making Nevada proud.”
Even as its roots are deep in the industry, Las Vegas isn’t just a city that hosts fights anymore. That’s part of the challenge facing boxing—a niche sport that no longer holds the top priority in the city’s entertainment calendar.
Historically, fighter arrivals at MGM Grand have been a spectacle during fight week, a must-see moment that signaled a massive event.
This week? Instead of the brand’s iconic lion and symbolic boxing ring in the lobby, the setup featured Lunar New Year festivities.
The shifting landscape of boxing has also caught the attention of UFC President Dana White, who once had big plans to launch Zuffa Boxing but ultimately stepped away from the sport. However, as boxing continues to struggle with fragmented leadership, stalled fights, and promotional disputes, White has left the door open for a potential return.
“Turki has pulled off things people believed couldn’t be done in the world of boxing. It took that kind of money and power to do it,” White told LVSportsBiz.com. “He has a lot of work ahead of him. I’ll tell you this—he’s got a plan.”
Even as rumors swirled again this month about White recommitting to boxing, he has not indicated any serious interest in joining his newest fight business partner, the Saudis, in the sport.
“People have been talking about the demise of boxing for 30 years, and we’re still here talking about boxing right now,” White said.
The rise of international boxing venues, particularly in the Middle East, has altered the landscape. Fighters are being lured with record-breaking purses and high-end production quality, leading to massive events featuring the sport’s biggest stars.
Benavidez has always been his own man. He’s less concerned with what’s going on across the globe when it comes to his business.
When LVSportsbiz.com asked Benavidez about being left off the list of a dozen or so fighters the Saudis were looking to make big money events with, the Phoenix-born boxer responded, “To be honest with you, I’m not worried about Turki. We’re on PBC. We’re in the U.S. We’re doing fights here in Vegas. I care about making fights with PBC.”
This fight isn’t just about defeating Morrell. It’s about continuing the tradition of Las Vegas as boxing’s biggest stage.
“People are interested in seeing these press conferences. Every fight gets bigger and bigger,” Benavidez said. “I’m trying to enjoy this moment. I’m trying to be the face of boxing.”
Saturday night, under the bright lights of the Strip, he and his opponent, Cuban-born Morrell, have another chance to prove that the fight capital of the world isn’t going anywhere.
