FRANK WARREN: Here’s the true reality about Saudis and boxing

There’s been plenty said and written about Saudi Arabia’s national anthem being played at Wembley before Saturday night’s big fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

Most of it was nonsense. It is total bull**** to claim the Saudi national anthem took prominence at our national stadium.

It has always been the case that the national anthem of the host nation goes second – which is exactly what happened last weekend so I don’t understand why anyone would make a fuss about the Saudis going first.

Back in the day if you went to a fight promoted by Don King, he would play the US national anthem, regardless of whether any American fighters were involved. When Ricky Hatton fought Manny Pacquaio in Las Vegas they played the British national anthem, followed by the Philippines national anthem and then the American one.

This is nothing new so I cannot get my head round why it has suddenly become a problem. What, because it’s the Saudis? Why, what’s the big problem with them?

People wouldn’t have attended the fight if they really had an issue with Saudi investment. In the build-up, the events promoting the fight were at iconic London venues like the Guildhall and Trafalgar Square. Were there any protests? No. Was there a single banner? No. I drive through London every day seeing people protesting about something or other but I didn’t see any ahead of the fight so the whole argument is total garbage.

And contrary to what some have suggested, there was no mass booing when the Saudi national anthem was played. Yes, there were few people who did but I’ve been at fights when the ‘away’ fighter’s national anthem really is booed and that is embarrassing. It’s why I don’t like that playing national anthems in case that happens but it didn’t occur at Wembley in big numbers.

Rather than worry about that, we should be celebrating the fact that we saw a historic event at Wembley, featuring two British boxers. And we should remember that it only happened because of investment from another country who want to see the sport thrive and have taken it in their heart to say this is the best country to invest in because it has the most passionate, patriotic supporters.

That’s why they’re getting behind British boxing and that’s what they’ve done.

So other than Simon Jordan who wrote about the subject earlier this week, who else is getting worked up about it?

For Simon, the whole spectacle was a negative for boxing but I don’t get that. Ok, so someone with an agenda will point to a few boos because it fits their narrative but that wasn’t a big thing on the night and if anyone claims it was, they are a liar.

Instead of being so narrow-minded, why don’t the naysayers open their eyes up and embrace other people’s cultures like the Saudis are trying to embrace our culture by inviting us to bring our western sport to their country?

They’ve started getting younger people and girls into the gyms in Saudi. There is the first women’s title fight coming up in Saudi – who would have thought that a year or two ago? That’s what’s really happening.

And rather than focusing on the fact the Saudi national anthem was played, look at all the positives. Hotels and restaurants around Wembley enjoyed massive business. Multi million pounds were generated by this event for the whole week leading up to the fight. How can that be bad for our economy, our country and our sport? We had massive entertainment and an unbelievable show for British fight fans. That’s why it is small-minded and vindictive to pick out the national anthem as an issue and ignore all the positives.

The fight was one small part of the Riyadh Season, a cultural event that includes different sports, music, dance and poetry from all over – the Middle East, Far East and the West. It’s bringing all these experiences to a very young population in Saudi Arabia, where around 75 per cent are under 35 and the biggest users of social media.

They have a budget which is not about boxing, it is about promoting Riyadh season, promoting Saudi Arabia and the capital and bringing big events there for their population.

So yes, Riyadh Season was plastered everywhere at Wembley but that is life, that is globalisation and it ain’t going to change. That is where we are and the fact is, the fight would not have taken place without Saudi Arabia’s involvement.

I also don’t understand the argument about it being a problem where the money came from. There is no one more patriotic than me but it would be ridiculous if sport didn’t accept money from other cultures. Boxing is global and like football, money has been invested in it from around the world. Just as it has in rugby, tennis and golf.

If you ask Chelsea fans, whether they rather would rather go back to the Ken Bates days or the Roman Abramovich era and I think we all know the answer. The same goes for Manchester City – would their fans want the previous owners or the current owners?

Have they not enhanced the Premier League and helped make it best in the world? Of course they have. Not only have they done that, they have also invested in Britain – isn’t that a good thing?

Simon claims that by embracing the Saudis, something has been taken away from the fabric of boxing. You ask the 98,000 in Wembley if they were entertained and if they enjoyed it? Ask the boxers on the undercard who would never have featured without Saudi investment.

Did they get well paid? Did they get the biggest possible purses? Yes they did. Did we make money? Yes of course we did, we’re professional promoters, it’s what we do for a living.

Would Simon have taken Saudi money when Crystal Palace were on their knees under his ownership? Of course he would and not only would he have taken it, he’d have dyed his hair green!

I don’t think many share his views around the money behind the fight damaging the fabric of boxing or the fact the Saudi national anthem was played at Wembley. This was a great event, watched by millions and everyone who came up to me after the fight said how entertained they were.

Boxing, like everything, evolves and moves forward. If you have blinkers on all the time, you’ll go nowhere because the fact of the matter is, the Riyadh Season’s contribution to British boxing has been fantastic.

Just ask Tyson Fury, Joshua or Dubois – and most importantly ask the fans.