Mike Tyson opens boxing club in partnership with Riyadh Season

Entertainment can unite people across typical barriers, and that is why Riyadh Season has invested in the sport of boxing. 

The announcement of the “Battle of the Baddest” between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury during the Riyadh Season festival on October 28 is just one example of the Kingdom’s dedication to the sport.

However, the excitement does not end with a single fight.

Riyadh Season recently signed an agreement with Joe Gallagher, a renowned boxing trainer, to build the first ever Mike Tyson Boxing Gym in the world. The facility will be built in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and is set to open next month. Not only will it provide a space for local boxers to develop their skills, but it will also include visits and inputs from the boxing legend himself.

As part of this agreement, Gallagher will be responsible for overseeing the management of the gym and training local Saudi teenage prospect, Mohammad Al-Akl. Joe Gallagher’s reputation precedes him with his experience having produced successful British and World champions, like Anthony Crolla, Scott Quigg, Natasha Jonas, Liam Smith, Callum Smith, and Paul Butler.

He is also a two-time winner of the UK Boxing News Trainer of the Year award and was the first UK-born trainer to win the USA Ring Magazine World Trainer of the Year award in 2015.

Gallagher expressed his excitement about the project, “It is great to be involved in such an exciting project in a growing market, where boxing is really taking off.

The fact that Saudi Arabia has attracted such huge names as Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou to fight in Riyadh and has worked with Mike Tyson to create the first gym with his name attached to it shows the commitment in putting Saudi Arabia among some of the top nations in terms of hosting events and building world-class facilities.”

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The establishment of the Mike Tyson Boxing Gym in Saudi Arabia could be seen as a great step towards investing in the growth and talent of local boxers, as well as encouraging the growth of the sport in the Kingdom. The collaboration is well-timed, given that Riyadh Season is quickly becoming a top destination for sports and entertainment in the Middle East.

The agreement also extends beyond just the world of boxing, as sporting events and entertainment platforms become fundamental to bringing people together across cultural, linguistic and geographical barriers.