Saudi boxer Ziyad “Zizo” Al Maayouf stepped into the ring tonight in New York. He carried his country’s hopes on one of boxing’s biggest stages.
The 25-year-old from Saudi Arabia faced Kendo Castillo tonight. This fight was on the undercard of the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson world title clash. With a 7-0-1 record, Zizo had another chance to prove himself.
A Saudi Fighter Making Waves in America
Al Maayouf’s story isn’t typical. Born in Saudi Arabia, he moved to Los Angeles for his boxing career. That path is still rare for Gulf fighters. But he’s making it work.
Standing 5’10” with solid skills, Zizo builds wins through technique. He doesn’t rely on knockout power alone. Tonight’s opponent Kendo Castillo brought a 5-2-1 record. He was experienced but clearly the underdog.
The Big Stage
Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson headlined tonight. Fighting on their card puts Al Maayouf in front of millions. These opportunities can launch a career fast.
The super lightweight division is stacked right now. To break through, fighters need memorable performances. A big win tonight could open major doors for Zizo.
What This Means for Saudi Boxing
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in combat sports recently. The Kingdom hosts major boxing and MMA events now. But developing homegrown talent is a different challenge.
Al Maayouf represents the next step. He’s a Saudi fighter competing at the pro level in America. If he keeps rising, he could become a star for the Kingdom’s sports scene.
Tonight was another step on that path.
This is a developing story. Results will be updated.
Image: World Boxing News
