RIYADH — The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to sponsor the first world heavyweight title fight to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, set for Dec. 7 at the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh as part of the Diriyah Season.

Officially titled the ‘Clash on the Dunes presented by the Public Investment Fund (PIF)’, the championship bout will see Anthony Joshua challenge reigning world heavyweight titleholder Andy Ruiz Jr. Joshua lost his WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO belts to Ruiz when the pair first met at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June of this year.

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AlFaisal, chairman of the General Sports Authority, said: “I am delighted to welcome PIF as a sponsor of this iconic event being staged for the first time in the Kingdom. An investment in sport is an investment in people and as the sovereign wealth fund for Saudi Arabia, PIF’s mission is perfectly aligned with our own at the GSA, which is making life better and more enjoyable for our citizens and the visitors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Tapping into the sports and entertainment sectors through sponsoring this event is a perfect example of the strategic partnerships PIF seeks to develop to enable new sectors, diversify the economy and increase the Kingdom’s offerings. The historic event is set to attract boxing fans from across the globe to Saudi Arabia. — SG