Saudi boxer Ziyad Almaayouf hopes to lead the way for young Arab prospects

RIYADH: Ziyad Almaayouf has an impressive, and growing, list of firsts.

He made history in August 2022 on the Joshua v Usyk card in Jeddah as the first Saudi boxer to win a professional fight, against Mexican Jose Alfredo Alatorre.

He then went on to break another barrier this year on the Joshua v Franklin Jr. card by becoming the first Saudi fighter to compete at the O2 Arena in London, beating Georgi Velichkov of Bulgaria in four rounds.

There is much more to “Zizo,” who fights out of California, than meets the eye.

At just 23 years old, Almaayouf now has record of 4-0, and is already stamping his name on boxing history in the region.

Raised in a Saudi household with eight siblings, Almaayouf’s upbringing instilled in him the importance of family values. In his home there is an unwritten rule that states no one eats dinner alone; they do everything together.

However, his journey in the sport has presented unique mental challenges. Almaayouf admits that the solitary nature of boxing, and the loneliness of prolonged training camps abroad, often takes a toll on him personally.

He made the move to the US at the age of 19 and describes it as starting his boxing journey from scratch. The level of ring IQ, technical skill, and access to equipment was vastly different from what the Arab world had provided. Despite beginning his training at the age of 11, he did not even lay eyes on a boxing ring until he turned 16. His equipment was basic, lacking even a proper heavy bag.

The Saudi boxer now trains in California under the guidance of renowned boxer and trainer James Walter “Buddy” McGirt.

“I believe that linking up with Buddy McGirt was written in the stars, I have a post on my Instagram from years ago, before I even