'I’m afraid in 2028 or 2029 I’ll forget my name' - Turki Alalshikh speaks out after cancer and brain tumour diagnosis

Turki Alalshikh has made a devastating confession about his health condition after it was confirmed he was suffering from cancer and a brain tumour.

It's fair to say that no man has been more infuencial in boxing in recent years than Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh.

The 44-year-old has been a key part of the negotiations for some of the biggest fights in the sport, including both clashes between, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol and Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou.

More recently, the Alalshikh co-founded Zuffa Boxing alongside UFC CEO and President Dana White, with the boxing promotion since making major shockwaves in the sport.

Unfortunately, during this time he has also been dealing with some major health issues, keeping relatively private about the details of these issues.

He was diagnosed with several forms of cancer from 2015, with the most serious being a tumour located in his brain, close to his pituitary gland.

Alalshikh spent much of 2018 and 2019 in New York receiving treatment and pushed for Saudi Arabia to begin investing more in boxing after returning.

And in a rare interview discussing his condition, Alalshikh admitted that he hopes to help create 'peace' in the boxing community by holding a meeting with some of the biggest names in the sport.

“I’ll do my best to do a meeting soon between my brothers Dana White, Nick Khan, Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn, and my partners and friends,” Alalshikh told Ring Magazine.

“To make peace and revolution for boxing. I hope I succeed and boxing fans see the white smoke rise from the chimney.

“I want to do it before losing my memory. I’m afraid in 2028 or 2029 I’ll forget my name.”

Getting White and Hearn to shake hands and make peace would be some doing given the fierce and bitter rivalry that has been ignited between the pair in recent months.

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However, after Alalshikh successfully provided the platform, and the money, for Hearn and historic rival Warren to work together on the Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5 event in 2024, anything seems possible.

Ryan Garcia responds to Turki Alalshikh's devastating admission

WBC Welterweight champion is one of the biggest names to have worked with Alalshikh, and is heavily rumoured to be in negotiations regarding a blockbuster fight with Zuffa Boxing's Conor Benn.

Upon reading Alalshikh’s statement, the American boxer took to social media to send his regards to the Saudi official, praising him for his work in boxing thus far.

Reacting to Alalshikh’s above statement, Garcia wrote on X: “Turki it hurts to hear what you are going thru! Your passion for the sport and the effort you put in has been already revolutionary.

"It has not been overlooked or taken for granted at least by me and I’m sure by many others. I’ll be at my best to show you this sport no matter what happens will be in good hands. You are a fighter! A champion and a hall of famer for boxing.”