Current Unified WBA, IBF, WBO Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) has signed a multiflight deal with Saudi Arabian based promotional company, Skill Challenge Promotions (SCP) established by His Highness Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz in 2023 after the astounding success of hosting some of biggest boxing events in The Kingdom.
Usyk recently fought in The Kingdom in August 2022 defeating Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision to retain his belts in their highly anticipated rematch labelled ‘Rage on the Red’ Sea hosted by Skill Challenge Entertainment and The Ministry of Sport.
“Skill Challenge Promotions takes pride in working with an elite champion such as Oleksandr Usyk who not only possesses technical greatness in the ring but greatness outside it as well as an ambassador for the sport” stated SCP Chairman Prince Khaled. “Our aim is to work with multi-dimensional champions who possess the mutual core values Oleksandr does as we appreciate those above everything else.”
The signing of Usyk to The Kingdom’s Skill Challenge Promotion’s draws significant parallels with Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing with the Saudi Football League demonstrating the influence and momentum the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gathering in the sporting world aligned with Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s national reform programme, Vision 2030.
Director of Boxing Operations for the Promotion, Amer Abdallah stated, “Prince Khaled’s “mission” is to put on the best fights for the fighters and for the fans working in collaboration with all global promoters, management and networks collectively.”
There has been much talk around the anticipated December showdown with WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury for a unification bout to declare an Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after numerous failed attempts to make the fight happen.
“It is obviously the fight most boxing fans want to see and in time we hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the direction we’ll take with the unification bout” Abdallah continued. “But the first order of business is his defence against Daniel Dubois in August 2023.”
“It is great honour and joy for me to return to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Oleksandr Usyk stated during the press announcement in Riyadh. “It’s an excellent opportunity to work with His Highness Prince Khaled and to reach our team’s goal to claim the WBC Heavyweight Champion title to become The Undisputed Champion. I haven’t got any big plans, like a samurai I have the way… the way I walk.”
“This is a chapter in the lifetime of Oleksandr and history in the making” Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s Promoter and K2 founder stated.
“We want to thank Prince Khaled and the boxing world really needs a promotion like Skill Challenge Promotions and people like Prince Khaled who is so loved in the sport. It is an honour for me to bring one of my best fighters in Oleksandr Usyk to Skill Challenge Promotions.” stated long time Manager, Egis Klimas.
Skill Challenge Entertainment was founded by His Highness Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz of Saudi Arabia, launching their inaugural event in 2019 featuring the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz dubbed “Clash on the Dunes”. After the global pandemic, Skill Challenge Entertainment hosted the rematch of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua branded “Rage on the Red Sea” in August of 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company’s most recent global event, “The Truth” featured global stars Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury and Badou Jack vs Illunga Makabu for the WBC Cruiserweight Title which took place in February 2023 and became the largest hybrid boxing event to ever take place.
