Saudi boxing fans had plenty to celebrate last Saturday night as their own Mohammed Alakel made impressive debut on the global stage during the “fight of the century” featuring Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Terence Crawford. The 21-year-old debutant kicked things off in the lightweight division with a strong performance, earning a unanimous-decision win over American Travis Crawford after ten intense rounds.
Alakel, nicknamed “Mighty,” took on the U.S. crowd for the first time in his 11-month pro career and didn’t disappoint. The judges scored the fight 99-91, 99-91, and 98-92 in his favour, and the CompuBox stats tell the full story: Alakel outlanded Crawford 130-25 in the first half and finished the night 223-75 overall.
Speaking after his fight, Alakel said, “I’m honored to be representing my country in these big events. It’s my first time fighting outside of Saudi Arabia … I hope to fight many more times. It’s been good fighting.”
With such a strong showing, Saudi boxing is sending a clear message to the world: their fighters are ready for the big stage.
Fans who want to experience the action firsthand will be happy to know that some major fight nights are coming to the region. This October, UFC 321 returns to Abu Dhabi, headlined by a clash between current champion Tom Aspinall and former interim champion Ciryl Gane — it’s shaping up to be a must-watch event for fight fans.
