Rick Reeno Builds Boxing’s Second Empire as CEO of The Ring
Rick Reeno, who built BoxingScene into boxing's dominant news site, now leads The Ring as CEO under Saudi investor Turki Alalshikh. The 1922-founded publication is expanding into live events, video, and podcasts, with Reeno positioning himself at boxing's highest-profile launches.
Rick Reeno has consolidated control of boxing's two most established media properties by owning the playbook. In 2003, he built BoxingScene into a round-the-clock news operation. Two decades later, he holds the title of CEO and public face of The Ring, the sport's most authoritative outlet.
The Ring's current owner, Saudi investor Turki Alalshikh, acquired the publication from Golden Boy Promotions in 2024. Under Reeno's leadership, the 1922-founded magazine, known as "The Bible of Boxing," has shifted its revenue model from print-only to a diversified stack: print editions, video, podcasts, fantasy contests, and live events.
The strategic pivot toward events marks the clearest break from The Ring's historical identity. In 2025, the brand staged its inaugural U.S. card in New York, featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez. Reeno framed the promotion not as profit-driven but as legacy-building, telling the Associated Press he wanted the event memorable enough that "fans look back decades later and remember that crazy event in the heart of Times Square."
The approach mirrors precedent from boxing's highest-profile recent match: Reeno walked onstage during the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford launch event in Riyadh, holding a custom Ring trophy. His visibility at Alalshikh's marquee productions signals The Ring is now functioning as both publisher and de facto event partner, blurring lines between journalism and promotion.
Reeno's previous exit—selling BoxingScene to a publicly traded company—demonstrated the asset's underlying value. His ability to repeat the pattern with a 102-year-old publication hinges on growing audience and sponsorship revenue faster than production costs. The Ring's decision to place its complete print archive online for free access positions the brand as the sport's institutional memory, a moat against newer competitors. Whether that heritage translates to sustainable revenue streams beyond event tie-ins remains untested.
