25: GERVONTA DAVIS
A new addition to the list but there is case to made that the undefeated Tank is currently the biggest drawing American fighter. His clash with Ryan Garcia in April last year reportedly generated over $100m and at 29 years old he is now about to enter the prime years of his career.
24: MAURICIO SULAIMAN
The president of the World Boxing Council had some fire fighting to do with Conor Benn, who failed one of the WBC Clean Boxing Programme tests only for the sanctioning body to ‘clear’ him of any wrongdoing. But they continue to push for positive changes and have been heavily involved in the Saudi era too.
23: TODD DUBEOUF
As the president of Top Rank, the company founded and owned by his father-in-law Bob Arum, Todd Dubeouf is at the heart of operational matters for arguably the most important promotional company in boxing. Crucially secured the deal with ESPN which continues to this day.
22: NAOYA INOUE
At 26-0 with 23 KOs, Naoya Inoue is arguably the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet and has emerged as one of global boxing’s biggest attractions. Thousands packed in to watch him crush Marlos Tapales on Boxing Day while his May fight against Luis Nery has been set up for a crowd of 55,000.
21: OLEKSANDR USYK
The former cruiserweight champion has made an impressive step up into boxing’s glamour divisions and is now one of the most well respected and loved active fighters. Given the ongoing conflict in his home country of Ukraine, his achievements have also taken on huge cultural and historical significance.
20: ANDREW GEORGIOU
Appointed the head of Warner Bros Discovery in the UK and Ireland in August, Andrew Georgiou is also the President and Managing Director of WBD Sports Europe, which means that he is responsible for what goes on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland. Currently, that means Queensberry Promotions boxing, on both subscription and pay-per-view platforms.
19: FRANK SMITH
CEO of Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn’s right-hand man, Frank Smith has come a long way since starting as a general dog’s body at the company as a 15-year-old. Now pivotal in securing expansive deals in new territories like Japan and Abu Dhabi, ‘the tea boy’ has been tipped to take over from Hearn when he eventually decides to step away.
18: BEN SHALOM
The CEO of Boxxer who has stealthily grown his promotional business off the back of an initial £10,000 loan to buy his licence. His stable boasts big domestic names like Chris Billam-Smith, Joshua Buatsi and Lawrence Okolie and he crucially has the exclusive broadcast deal with Sky.
17: TYSON FURY
From the brink of retirement to perhaps the biggest name in boxing who isn’t Mexican. Fury has staked his claim as the best heavyweight of his generation with wins over Wladimir Klitschko and his 2-0-1 (2) trilogy with Deontay Wilder. Could essentially complete boxing against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
16: ANTHONY JOSHUA
Despite back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the Londoner remains one of the biggest draws in the heavyweight division and his star appears to be back on the rise as a result of three solid wins in 2023. Victory over Francis Ngannou will set up another huge money clash in 2024 too.
15: AKIHIKO HONDA
The hall of Fame promoter most widely known as ‘Mr Honda’ has been one of the faces of Japanese boxing for decades and is currently the man behind Naoya Inoue’s rise to superstardom. The President of Teiken Promotions is at the forefront of Japan’s current strength on the world stage.
14: FLOYD MAYWEATHER
He may have retired over six years ago but Mayweather remains a highly influential figure in the sport. Whether he is involved in the development of new stars like Curmel Moton or demanding staggering fees for exhibition fights, whatever he does is news.
13: JONATHAN LICHT
The managing director of Sky Sports since mid 2021, Jonathan Licht has the final say on whether British boxing’s largest broadcaster remains in the sport. Despite many rumours that they are eying an exit, Sky remain involved and signed an exclusive deal with Boxxer following Matchroom’s move to DAZN.
12: GEORGE WARREN
The CEO and heartbeat of Queensberry Promotions and, according to his dad Frank, the man behind the cordial relations with Saudi and the big money deals which have followed. Has been involved with his father’s company for years, including a major role in the establishment of Box Nation. A relatively low-key figure who is not a fan of the limelight.
11: SHAY SEGEV
Since January 2022, Segev is DAZN’s chief executive officer, who is ‘responsible for the company’s global strategy and driving DAZN through its next stage of growth’. Since the streaming platform agreed a billion dollar deal with Eddie Hearn nearly six years ago, they have had a bumpy ride in boxing but they are an important player in the major US and UK markets as well as expanding their boxing offering to other territories.
10: SPENCER BROWN
A newcomer to this list, Tyson Fury’s manager Brown has emerged as an important cog in boxing’s anglo-Saudi relations. Cut his teeth running events like meet-and-greets, which Fury has done in the past, but is now the Gypsy King’s right-hand man and was on the top table at the Fury-Usyk launch press conference. Was also quoted by Anthony Joshua as involved in his deal to fight Francis Ngannou in March.
9: OSCAR DE LA HOYA
The Golden Boy is still swinging after a rollercoaster ride since his retirement. Crucially, his promotional company signed a five-year deal with DAZN in May 2022 which they continue to deliver on. Despite losing Canelo some years back, his stable boasts stars like Jaime Munguia and Vergil Ortiz although he has had a public spat with Ryan Garcia.
8: EGIS KLIMAS
Noted manager and advisor Klimas made his name as the man aligned with many eastern European fighters who he has steered to the sharp end of the sport. With years alongside Sergey Kovalev, he is now notably involved with Vasyl Lomachenko and was one of the main players involved in the undisputed heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and his long-time client Oleksandr Usyk. Also owns a gym and has started working with a number of non-European fighters too.
7: BURKE MAGNUS
After nearly 30 years at ESPN, Magnus was promoted to president of content in March of last year after a wider reorganisation across the company’s leadership team. The broadcasting veteran is now ultimately responsible for all programming and rights acquisition, scheduling and original content. Was central to the deal with Top Rank to ensure that boxing is still a key component on their cable channel and just as importantly, their streaming platform ESPN+.
6: SAUL ALVAREZ
Still the most influential active boxer on Earth given his star power in the US and Latin markets. Following his defeat to Dmitry Bivol in 2022, Canelo has outpointed Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder and Jermell Charlo leading to suggestions that he is no longer the destructive force of old. Even so, he remains the biggest single star in the sport and his lucrative three-fight deal with PBC, which will include big fights on cinco de Mayo and Mexican independence weekend in 2024, is evidence of that.
5: EDDIE HEARN
The Matchroom supremo continues to do big business in both the UK and US markets and beyond as a result of his close relationship with global broadcast partner DAZN. Hearn has also promoted the entirety of Anthony Joshua’s professional career, which is firmly back on track following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. Crucially, has forged a relationship with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and has finally met Frank Warren as a result.
4: FRANK WARREN
There is simply no keeping Frank Warren down. Now 71 years old and now into his fifth decade promoting, The Queensberry Promotions boss is at the heart of the Saudi Arabian arrival into boxing. With a key relationship with Turki Al-Alshikh and Sela, he is involved in all Riyadh Season events. He is also promoter to Tyson Fury while continuing to stage some of the biggest events in UK boxing which are broadcast on TNT Sports.
3: AL HAYMON
Last year was arguably the best ever for Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions since its inception in 2015 with megafights like Terence Crawford against Errol Spence Jnr, Gervonta Davis’ money-spinning win over Ryan Garcia and also a Las Vegas outing for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who remains under contract for two more fights. And, although his long-time broadcasting partner Showtime shut up shop in 2023, Haymon has now agreed a potentially colossal deal with Amazon Prime.
2: BOB ARUM
Now 92 years old, Bob Arum shows no signs of slowing down. The Hall of Fame promoter is still putting on some of the biggest fights on the planet, is involved with active icons like Tyson Fury, Artur Beterbiev and Naoya Inoue and still enjoys a relationship with broadcasting behemoth ESPN. While continuing to make moves in the US market, Arum is crucially also involved in Saudi too.
1: TURKI AL-ALSHIKH
At the time of writing, there is no one man more influential in this sport than the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Alshikh. With a budget in a different league to any other institution in world boxing, Al-Alshikh is able to pull together fight cards that seem like the stuff of fantasy. Off the back of a big 2023, Q1 this year already includes an undisputed heavyweight fight and a showdown between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.