The Chairman of Riyadh Season and Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh, has ruled out the idea of bringing back 15-round boxing matches.
For decades, championship fights were contested over 15 rounds, but this changed in 1982 following the tragic death of Duk Koo Kim in a lightweight bout. Kim suffered severe punishment in a 14-round title fight against Ray Mancini.
In response to the incident, the WBC mandated that all future world title fights be limited to 12 rounds, a decision later adopted by other governing bodies.
Recently, Gilberto Mendoza, President of the WBA, revealed that his organization is considering a trial phase for reintroducing 15-round fights in certain competitions.
Mendoza stated, “The WBA may consider approving this experimentally, given the intense competition among fighters.”
However, various medical studies indicate that the brain becomes more vulnerable to injury after the 12th round. Many health experts also warn that extending fights to 15 rounds significantly increases the risk of dehydration and exhaustion.
Turki Al-Sheikh strongly opposes the return to 15-round matches, citing serious health concerns for fighters.
“No, I do not support this idea in any way,” Al-Sheikh stated. “This is bad for a fighter’s health, and I will never support bringing back 15-round fights.
In my opinion, even 12 rounds may be too much for a fighter’s well-being. But 15 rounds? Absolutely not. A 15-round fight should never be allowed.”
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