Riyadh: In the heart of the boxing world, where legends are made and dreams are realized, a new figure is emerging, one that embodies the fusion of tradition and innovation, heritage and progress. Ziyad Al-Maayouf, a Saudi boxer with a vision as expansive as the desert horizon, is not just stepping into the ring; he is stepping into history.
“I’m honestly just looking at it right now. And I’m looking forward to being ringside and just, you know, living the dreams of a Saudi boxer, first. But, you know, just someone who loves the sport, second,” Al-Maayouf said.
His ascent is not merely about personal glory; it is also about rewriting the narrative of boxing itself. “Hopefully very soon we’ll be bringing a belt back to Saudi,” he added, his determination palpable. “I’m not going to stop until I do that.”
For Al-Maayouf, every fight is a testament to the golden era of boxing he finds himself in. “Like I always say, this is what I would like to call the golden era of boxing,” he said, adding that the spirit of the age continues to “inspire young fighters like me to take risks, fight the best.
“The records don’t matter. You know, bring out the real fighter in you and bring out the good fights.”
As Al-Maayouf prepares for his next bout, he carries with him the hopes and dreams of a nation, the aspirations of a global audience, and the unwavering belief that in the squared circle, anything is possible. “We want to see the sport of boxing go back to the top five and maybe even the top one sport of the world.”
In Ziyad Al-Maayouf, boxing has found not just a competitor, but a pioneer — a man whose journey transcends borders, whose dreams inspire generations and whose fists carry the weight of history. As he steps into the ring, he does so not just as a fighter, but as a symbol of what boxing was, what it is, and what it can become.
