Riyadh | August 13, 2025

Boxing Week activities launched today at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, drawing a large crowd of fans and media, kicking off with a reception for British boxing stars Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte, who are preparing to face off in a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown next Saturday at anb Arena, as part of one of the standout combat sports events accompanying the Esports World Cup.

The upcoming bout is a real test of Itauma’s abilities — he holds a clean professional record with no defeats in 20 fights, half of them won by knockout — while Whyte, with his long experience and impressive record of 31 wins (21 by knockout) against 3 losses, seeks to reclaim his standing on the world stage after recovering from a hand injury that kept him out of competition for several months.

Boxing Week activities continue tomorrow with open training sessions, giving fans and media the chance to watch the fighters up close in the ring, building anticipation for fight night. The evening’s card also includes a series of prominent international matchups, among them:

  • A lightweight bout between Britain’s Nick Ball and Australia’s Sam Goodman, with both seeking to protect their unbeaten records.
  • A WBA featherweight title fight between America’s Ray Ford and Puerto Rico’s Abraham Nova, expected to be a powerful and thrilling clash.
  • A heavyweight bout between Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic and Britain’s David Adeleye.
  • A bout between Japan’s Hayato Tsutsumi and Britain’s Qais Ashfaq, showcasing a blend of Asian speed and British experience.

The event forms part of the Esports World Cup, hosted by Riyadh from July 7 through August 24, with more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from around the world competing across 25 tournaments over seven weeks, with total prize money reaching $70 million — a unique mix of digital competition excitement and live combat sports action.