Recent comments by Turki Alalshikh aimed at Eddie Hearn, alongside a Ring Magazine report citing rumors about Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, have drawn attention across boxing amid shifting promoter relationships.
Alalshikh first addressed Hearn in comments published by The Ring.
“Eddie [Hearn], come and put your head on the chest of your father. I will give you a warm hug. The world is filled with evil people,” Alalshikh said.
The remarks came as boxing continues to adjust to the growing influence of Saudi-backed events and new structures emerging around the sport.
Ring Publishes Queensberry Rumor Report
Around the same time, The Ring also carried a report referencing rumors circulating in boxing regarding Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
The report suggested that Queensberry could face financial pressure without a continued relationship with its Saudi partners, Sela and TKO. It also referenced a breakdown in relations following legal tensions between the parties.
The claims were presented as circulating rumors rather than confirmed information. Queensberry has not publicly responded to the statements contained in the report.
Alalshikh Then Posts on Social Media
Alalshikh later addressed Hearn again through a message posted on his personal social media account.
“Eddie, don’t worry, I am always here for you. And if you call me, unlike Conor Benn, I will answer the phone,” he wrote.
The post brought Benn into the discussion at a time when the British welterweight had recently left Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to align with Zuffa Boxing.
Zuffa Context Adds to the Story
Benn’s name carries added weight because of his recent headline move. Reports have indicated Benn still had one remaining fight connected to Alalshikh-backed events before moving into the Zuffa structure, although the details of those arrangements have not been publicly confirmed.
That context gives Alalshikh’s message to Hearn a wider meaning beyond a passing joke, especially with Benn now viewed as part of boxing’s changing power map.
Promoter Relationships
Taken together, the comments aimed at Hearn and the Ring report on Queensberry have fueled discussion that Saudi-backed boxing interests may now be moving in a different direction from two of the sport’s best-known promoters.
Both Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing were key players during the early phase of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in major boxing events.
The latest public exchanges, however, point in a different direction as attention increasingly turns toward Zuffa Boxing and the new structure forming around Dana White.
For now, the sequence of events has left boxing with a clear picture: Alalshikh is still shaping the conversation publicly, but the promoters who helped open the door to Riyadh Season are no longer appearing at the center of it.
The platforms used for the comments have also raised questions about how boxing’s alliances are now playing out in public.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
