The Ring
The boxing world is buzzing over a potential massive shakeup. Word on the street—originally reported by Tris Dixon over at Total Boxing—is that DAZN is stepping in to take a controlling stake in The Ring. Just a couple of years ago, Turki Alalshikh bought the iconic magazine from Golden Boy Promotions for around $10 million. Now, multiple insiders say he’s already passed the torch to DAZN. Neither side is talking yet, and DAZN gave the classic “we don’t comment on rumors” response, but where there is smoke, there is usually fire.
A Shift in Identity
Oscar De La Hoya held onto the “Bible of Boxing” for 17 years before Alalshikh scooped it up in late 2024. Back then, the promise was all about bringing back the print edition and keeping the magazine fiercely independent. Fast forward to today, and The Ring feels less like a standalone publication and more like an in-house brand heavily intertwined with massive international fight cards.
Connecting the Dots
DAZN buying in wouldn’t exactly be a shock. They are already broadcasting events slapped with The Ring branding and working closely with Alalshikh and Riyadh Season. Remember last July? That is when they ditched the traditional pay-per-view model for Riyadh Season fights, rolling them straight into DAZN subscriptions instead. A formal acquisition just cements an alliance that has been building for months.
Following the Saudi Money Trail
There is also some serious financial overlap to consider. Early in 2025, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (through SURJ Sports Investment) dropped a billion dollars into DAZN for a minority stake. Passing control of The Ring to DAZN keeps the whole operation in the family. It blends Saudi backing with one of boxing’s biggest platforms, even though Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries still holds the majority keys to DAZN.
The Elephant in the Room: The Belts
Here is where things get tricky for boxing purists. The Ring isn’t just a magazine—it hands out belts. Fans and fighters have historically respected The Ring championships as unbiased, standing apart from the alphabet soup of the major sanctioning bodies. If a broadcaster like DAZN suddenly owns the entity that ranks the fighters and crowns the champions they put on TV, the potential for a conflict of interest is huge.
A Broadcasting Monopoly in the Making
Nobody is saying DAZN is going to start rigging the rankings tomorrow. Still, owning a 100-year-old institution like The Ring gives them unprecedented leverage. After locking up broadcasting deals with Top Rank, PBC, Matchroom, and Golden Boy recently, DAZN is no longer just showing the fights. They are positioning themselves to dictate the sport’s entire narrative.
