Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov the next step in Turki Alalshikh's plan to bring boxing to the modern era

Alalshikh's debut event on U.S. soil has a throwback feel with plans for even bigger events down the line

As Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the general entertainment authority and overseer of Saudi Arabia's aggressive financial investment into boxing, prepares for Saturday's debut boxing card on U.S. soil, the drumbeat of questions continue to follow him from those inside the business at just about every turn. 

Is Alalshikh, and by extension, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, good or bad for boxing's future? Isn't this just sports washing? And, what exactly is a Riyadh Season?

The answers, in this case, aren't as simple as the questions make it seem.