The latest big Riyadh Season boxing show will take place this Saturday and, in featuring some of the world's top Latino fighters, represents a new concept for the Saudi boxing boom.
The team behind Riyadh Season have already shown a willingness to innovate, including June's Queensbury versus Matchroom team event, and now they are hosting a show with a specific focus on fighters from Latin America. Here's everything you need to know.
What is Riyadh Season Latino Night?
So far the big shows in Saudi Arabia have been dominated by fighters signed with the two major UK promotional outfits: Queensbury and Matchroom. More recently, Boxxer, the third and smaller UK entity – and promoters of Chris Billam-Smith – have also come on board.
However, earlier this year, Riaydh Season signed partnerships with Top Rank and Golden Boy, two of the big players in US boxing.
Riyadh Season Latino Night is effectively a showcase for Golden Boy Promotions, the company headed up by the boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya.
What is the main event?
Top of the bill is an exciting unification bout in the cruiserweight division involving WBA champion Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez, one of Golden Boy's longest serving fighters.
He will be facing WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith of England, who is set for the biggest fight of his career in what will be his Riyadh Season debut.
Ramirez is a former super-middleweight belt holder who has a career record of 46-1 with 30 knockouts. His sole defeat was a lopsided decision loss against Dmitry Bivol at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in November 2022.
Ramirez told World Boxing News: “I’m really excited to be here, to be a part of the Latino night. I will become the first Mexican cruiserweight unified champion. It’s exciting because my dream will come true this November 16. I’ve been putting everything into training, a lot of work, hard work. Thank you, everyone.”
However, his opponent Billam-Smith said he was going to spoil the party. “This opportunity for me is huge," he said. "It’s a unification like [promoter] Ben [Shalom] spoke about. I’ve been written off many times before. Last time out against Richard Riakporhe. I was going into his backyard, his soccer stadium, and it was all about him, and it was his night, and I went and spoiled the party, and unfortunately for the Latinos, on November 16, I’ll be doing exactly the same again. All respect to Zurdo.”
Who is on the undercard?
The event features a total of six fights:
Gilberto Ramirez v Chris Billam-Smith; for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles
Jose Ramirez v Arnold Barbosa Jr; super lightweight
Oscar Collazo v Thammanoon Niyomtrong; for Collazo's WBO minimumweight title
William Zepeda v Tevin Farmer; lightweight
Oscar Duarte v Botirzhon Akhmedov; super lightweight
Ziyad Almaayouf v Juan Garcia; welterweight
When and where is it happening?
The card takes place on Saturday, November 16, at the newly opened The Venue in Riyadh.
What time does it start?
The action starts at 8pm local time. That's 9pm in the UAE, 5pm in the UK, and 12 noon US Eastern Time.
What time are the ring walks for the main event?
The main event is likely to start at around 1am local time, that's 2am in the UAE, 10pm in the UK, and 5pm US Eastern Time. The start time could change depending on the length of the undercard bouts.
Are tickets available?
Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
How do I watch?
The event is being broadcast worldwide by Dazn.
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sunday's Super Four matches
Dubai, 3.30pm
India v Pakistan
Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangladesh v Afghanistan
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
