Riyadh Season continues to deliver spectacle at the top, but a familiar trend of underwhelming undercards persists, highlighting a growing disparity between headliners and the supporting bouts.
This pattern follows in the wake of the Canelo vs Crawford extravaganza and other high-profile events, where prime-time matchups draw attention but undercards struggle to excite.
At the most recent Riyadh event, fans endured a lineup that fell short of matching the intensity of the main fight.
Standout bouts were scarce, with action often minimal despite $100,000 bonuses and finishes rare overall.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn II Undercard:
Jack Catterall vs Ekow Essuman
Adam Azim vs Zaur Abdullaev
Richard Riakporhe vs Tommy Welch
Sam Gilley vs Ishmael Davis
Mikie Tallon vs Fezan Shahid
The undercard lacks the energy and stakes to captivate casual viewers. In comparison, the New York Times Square event earlier this year featured three exceptional fights. Yet, even that night, many faced disappointment as two of the three bouts entered record books for inactivity — a reminder that flashy venues cannot always mask underwhelming performances.
The Reaction
The reaction started at a low point and continued to decline from there. A first comment stated, “What an abysmal card. All the money from the main event was left with an FNF-calibre card.”
A second added, “What happened to the stacked Saudi cards smh, the first card was way better. Catterall, as the co-main, is a nice food and toilet break before the main event.”
With all the focus on the undercard, one commenter offered insight into the controversial main event.
“Why are they fighting again? Yes, it was a good fight, but Chris almost died trying to make weight, and Benn needs to return to his original weight class. The money is probably too good.”
A Silver Lining: The November Contrast
Not every Riyadh card has been light on quality. November 22 promises a more compelling night for fans, with David Benavidez facing Anthony Yarde in a headline clash, supported by a stronger undercard. This contrast reinforces the notion that Riyadh Season’s top-tier fights still have an appeal, but careful matchmaking is essential if the events are to deliver consistent in-ring excitement.
Riyadh’s grand-scale events are undeniably effective in generating buzz, but the pattern of underwhelming undercards poses a challenge for the sport’s credibility.
For boxing to maintain momentum on these global stages, promoters must strike a balance between spectacle and substance — ensuring that every fighter, from the main event to the early prelims, has a meaningful and engaging role to play.
Moving forward, the most significant sign of the Kingdom’s commitment to boxing will be the consistent investment in actual 50/50 competitive high-level fights and star names to fill out the crucial support slots.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of Phil Jay.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
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