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By Cassandra Cousineau, lvsportsbiz.com boxwiters
Las Vegas, Nevada – Las Vegas has long been the fighting capital of the world and organized generations of Box superstars from Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather.
But the global boxing landscape is shifting, with Saudi Arabia being challenging important events and dominance of Vegas.
David Benavidez is preparing for David Morrell in the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, the fight on Amazon Prime Video. It is more than just a high-stakes in the middleweight. It is another test of Las Vegas' stand as the ultimate stage for Boxing's biggest moments.
In the past 18 months, Saudi Arabia has developed as a billion dollar dollar force in boxing, whereby the support of Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh season banner attracted the biggest names of sport.
Fighters like Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and the former Bankable Vegas name Tyson Fury have given in Saudi Arabia. After the kingdom aggressively secured top -class battles, many asked whether Las Vegas loses his grip as a place to start for the biggest nights of boxes.
At the age of 28, Benavidez is not just an undefeated two-time WBC Super medium weight champion and man, whom you call “The Monster”. He understands the boxing business and what it means in Las Vegas a heading.
“If you think of Las Vegas and these big fights, think of Mayweather fights, Pacquiao fights,” said Benavidez to Lvsportsbiz.com. “Now I feel good that all my fights are exclusively in Las Vegas. I am the Las Vegas child that makes Nevada proud. “
Even if its roots are deep in the industry, Las Vegas is not just a city where fights take place. This is part of the challenge for boxing – a niche sport that no longer has the top priority in the city's entertainment calendar.
Historically speaking, fighter arrangements at MGM Grand during the fighter week were a spectacle, a must that signaled a massive event.
This week? Instead of the legendary lion and the symbolic boxing ring of the brand in the lobby, the Setup Moon celebrations were presented.
The changing boxing landscape also attracted the attention of the UFC President Dana White, who once had great plans to start Zutfa Boxing, but had ultimately resigned from sport. However, since the boxing continues to struggle with fragmented leadership, blocked fights and advertising material disputes, White left the door open for a potential return.
“Turki pulled things that people believed not to do in the world of boxing. It took this kind of money and power to do it, ”said White to Lvsportsbiz.com. “He has a lot of work in front of him. I'll tell you that – he has a plan. “
Even when rumors about white recording of the box came up again this month, he did not seriously interest to join his latest fighting entrepreneur, Saudis, in sports.
“People have spoken about the death of boxing for 30 years, and we are still over the boxing here,” said White.
The rise of international boxing locations, especially in the Middle East, has changed the landscape. Fighters are lured with record-breaking wallets and high-end production quality, which leads to massive events with the greatest stars of sport.
Benavidez has always been his own man. He is less concerned about what is going on worldwide when it comes to his business.
When Lvsportsbiz.com Benavidez asked whether the Saudis were left out of the list of about a dozen fighters, the Saudis replied with the boxer born in Phoenix: “To be honest, I don't worry about Turki. . We are on PBC. We are in the USA, we run here in Vega's fights. It is important to me to fight with PBC. ”
This fight is not just about defeating Morrell. It is about continuing the tradition of Las Vegas as the largest stage of boxing.
“People are interested in seeing these press conferences. Every fight is getting bigger, ”said Benavidez. “I try to enjoy this moment. I try to be the face of the box. “
On Saturday evening, he and his opponent, Morrell, born in Cuban, have another chance under the light lights of the strip to prove that the battle capital of the world is nowhere.
