The fifth edition of Riyadh Season, Saudi Arabia’s premier entertainment event, burst into life on Saturday evening with a dazzling spectacle at the Kingdom Arena. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership during the launch. He thanked King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continuous support of the entertainment sector.
Beterbiev Crowned Undisputed Champion
The fifth edition of Riyadh Season began with a major highlight as Turki Alalshikh crowned Russian boxer Artur Beterbiev as the undisputed light heavyweight world champion. Beterbiev, holding IBF, WBC, and WBO titles, defeated Dmitry Bivol to claim the WBA belt in the IV Crown Showdown.
Opening Matches and Highlights
The showdown started with Serbian Marko Maric winning a unanimous decision against Mexican Christian Lopez in the middleweight division. Saudi boxer Mohammed Al-Aql also secured a unanimous victory against Colombian Jesus Gonzalez in four rounds.
In another thrilling match, British fighters Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron ended their fight in a draw.
Women’s and Middleweight Championships
Australian Skye Nicolson retained her featherweight world boxing title by defeating Britain’s Raven Chapman unanimously. In the IBO middleweight championship, British Chris Eubank Jr. dominated Polish Kamil Szeremeta, winning by knockout after seven rounds.
Spectacular Opening Ceremony
The grand opening featured captivating performances, vibrant fireworks, and a mesmerizing drone show. The Riyadh Season logo illuminated the night sky above Boulevard World, one of the city’s most popular destinations.