Arum On Zuffa Boxing After Saudi Pullback

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believes Zuffa Boxing's aggressive run in the sport has stalled now that Saudi money appears to be drying up.

Arum, speaking to Fight Hub TV after recovering from knee surgery, said the Gulf state's financial support allowed Zuffa to offer massive purses to fighters like Shakur Stevenson. "The Saudis are clearly pulling back," he said, per Bad Left Hook. "Who knows if they're going to be involved in boxing after this year."

Zuffa's Financial Model Under Scrutiny

The veteran promoter noted that Zuffa announced to shareholders it would not spend its own capital on fight promotion. Without Saudi backing, he said, the company leaves itself open to shareholder litigation if it reverses course. "If somebody gave me a barrel of money to put on fights, would I be doing a good job? Sure," Arum said. "But anybody would be doing a good job." The real test, he added, is whether Zuffa can make matches work on a limited budget tied to a fight's actual financial viability.

Arum pointed to the collapsed Shakur Stevenson deal as evidence of the shift. Stevenson reportedly split with Zuffa before fighting once under the promotion after terms calling for $15 million became unworkable. "Once they realized there was no money coming from the Saudis to fund a $15M fight deal, then what do you do?" Arum said. The promoter also cited the failed Stevenson-Devin Haney matchup, which he said fell apart because promised purses from both DAZN and Zuffa exceeded what the fight could generate.

On the sport's future after Saudi money evaporates, Arum drew parallels to past influxes of outside capital. He recalled Al Haymon's PBC venture, which burned through hundreds of millions from a mutual fund deal. "All I know is that the sport will continue, there will be great fights being made," he said. "How everybody will be compensated remains to be seen."

Arum also weighed in on the ongoing dispute between Eddie Hearn and Dana White over involvement in a potential Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua fight. "Eddie is correct," he said. "Dana has a contract with nobody." The fight, expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, is scheduled for discussion at a November hearing in London.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — ‘The Saudis are clearly pulling back’: Bob Arum reacts to Zuffa Boxing’s current position in the sport