Cristiano Ronaldo skips boxing bout between Dmitry Bivol & Artur Beterbiev to meet Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly skipped the Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev boxing clash to meet Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman instead.

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• Ronaldo had seat reserved at boxing
• Didn't attend huge fight
• Met with Prime Minister instead

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Before Bivol and Beterbiev slugged it out in the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night, Sky Sports posted a video including a ringside seat labelled "CR7" for Ronaldo. However, as the night unfolded, and Bivol won the undisputed light-heavyweight world title, the 40-year-old was nowhere to be seen. The Al-Nassr ace's absence was later explained with a social media post.

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• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  He wrote in an Instagram post after meeting the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia: "Happy to celebrate Founding Day with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and honored to attend the Saudi Cup horse race ceremony in Riyadh."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo is said to be a big boxing fan and attended bouts such as Tyson Fury's heavyweight match with Oleksander Uysk last year. But on this occasion, he went to the Saudi Cup – the world's richest horse race. Now he will get back to focusing on footballing matters as he tries to secure Al-Nassr a trophy this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Away from boxing matches and meeting the rich and famous, Ronaldo will be in action for Al-Nassr away to Al-Wehda on Tuesday in the Saudi Pro League.