As Riyadh cements its status as the global hub of high-stakes boxing, concerns are mounting over the diminishing presence of women’s bouts on major fight cards.
On Saturday night, the highly anticipated “Fight Card of the Century” will unfold at the Kingdom Arena, featuring a headline rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship. A co-main event will showcase an IBF heavyweight title bout between Great Britain’s Daniel Dubois and New Zealand’s Joseph Parker. The undercard consists of five additional fights, including an all-British clash between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith. However, not a single women’s fight has been scheduled, raising questions about the future of female representation in the sport’s most lucrative events.
In recent years, women’s boxing has experienced significant growth, with major fights gaining global attention. Yet, some within the sport worry that this momentum is slowing, especially as Saudi Arabia exerts more influence over boxing’s biggest promotions. Featherweight fighter Raven Chapman, one of the few women to have fought professionally in the country, expressed disappointment over the lack of female representation on such a high-profile event.
“It’s frustrating that, on what is being called the ‘biggest card of all time,’ there are no women’s fights. There are plenty of top-level female bouts that could have been included, featuring fighters like Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, or even a clash between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan,” Chapman said.
She noted that the Riyadh event would generate enormous media attention but lamented that none of it would be directed toward female fighters. “It’s on us, as women, to keep pushing for these opportunities,” she added.
Chapman previously competed in Riyadh when she faced Skye Nicolson for the WBC featherweight title. While that bout was seen as a step forward for women’s boxing in Saudi Arabia, Nicolson’s next title defense is set to take place in Australia rather than returning to the Riyadh Season stage.
Other figures in the sport have voiced similar concerns. American boxing star Claressa Shields, one of the most dominant female fighters in history, publicly addressed Turki Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, urging him not to overlook women’s boxing.
“Don’t forget about the women,” Shields posted on social media. “We love this sport too and want to make the biggest and best fights.”
Some within the boxing community question whether past women’s bouts in Riyadh were genuine steps toward inclusion or merely symbolic gestures. A boxing historian noted that Nicolson’s exclusion from the latest card raises concerns about the consistency of opportunities for female fighters.
Despite the lack of representation on this weekend’s event, there have been some signs of progress for women’s boxing in Saudi Arabia. Chapman observed young girls training at the Mike Tyson Boxing Club in Riyadh, an indication that interest in the sport is growing. However, logistical challenges remain, such as the absence of shared training spaces for male and female fighters.
Since 2018, Saudi Arabia has introduced reforms that have expanded certain rights for women, including the ability to drive and greater autonomy over healthcare and employment. Yet, human rights organizations continue to monitor and critique the country’s approach to gender equality.
While the absence of female fights in Riyadh is disappointing, Chapman remains hopeful about the future. She is set to fight at the Royal Albert Hall in March, an event that is being funded by the Riyadh Season initiative.
“The exposure and money that come with fighting in Saudi Arabia are great, but it’s not everything,” she said. “There will always be opportunities elsewhere, and events like the one at Royal Albert Hall allow us to keep gaining recognition.”
For now, the sport’s biggest fights in Saudi Arabia remain exclusive to men. Whether future events will include female fighters remains uncertain, but the conversation surrounding their exclusion is growing louder.
