Maksym Molodan vs. Giovanni Sarchioto
Molodan wins by MD.
Saulo Morales Saldivar vs. Shakul Samed
Morales wins by TKO in the 6th round.
Paul Ryan vs. Anas El Abid
Ryan wins by UD.
Isaac Torres vs. Rasheed Adeyemo
Torres wins by TKO in the 5th round.
Ciril Johnson Suffo vs. Brandon Velazquez Ortega
Johnson Suffo wins by UD.
Petro Frolov vs. Claudiu Ienci
Frolov wins by UD.
Lancelot Proton de la Chapelle vs. Nurkanat Rayis
Proton de la Chapelle wins by SD.
Jude Grant vs. Dmytro Rybalko
Draw.
Dylan Biggs vs. Hamza Azeem
Biggs wins by UD.
Derek Pomerleau vs. Liparit Ustian
Pomerleau wins by UD.
Ephrem Bariko vs. Sukhrobjon Kayimov
Bariko wins by UD.
Emiliano Aguillon Castro vs. Ishtvan Herzheni
Aguillon Castro wins by UD.
Carlos Sinisterra vs. Dacong Wang
Sinisterra wins by UD.
Jose Ramon Montes vs. Sean Arkwright
Montes wins by UD.
Mohammad Issa vs. Telieke Ahan
Issa wins by RTD in the 4th round.
Boxing is preparing to enter uncharted territory with the inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where ambitious rule changes and a revolutionary multi-division format promise to reinvent the sport’s landscape. Over four days, from April 17 to April 20, 128 fighters spread across featherweight, junior welterweight, middleweight, and heavyweight will compete in a single-elimination bracket for the prestigious José Sulaimán Trophy.
Below, we break down how each piece of this unique event will work. To start, this is only a four-division tournament, featuring 128 fighters:
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Featherweight (up to 128 lbs with tolerance)
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Junior Welterweight (up to 142 lbs with tolerance)
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Middleweight (up to 162.5 lbs with tolerance)
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Heavyweight (no set limit)
Each division features 32 competitors. The first 16 matches in a division take place on a single day, resulting in a rapid-fire elimination to a “Sweet 16” round.
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April 17: Featherweights
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April 18: Junior Welterweights
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April 19: Middleweights
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April 20: Heavyweights
Every day, 16 bouts of six three-minute rounds each will stream live on DAZN, beginning at 8 am ET. Winners advance to future rounds scheduled later in the year, with the finals set for December.
Watch the WBC Grand Prix Podcast with Mauricio Sulaiman:
Watch
Recognizing the wide geographic reach of this tournament, the WBC, along with the Middle East Boxing Commission, implemented a special weight allowance to address water retention issues from long-distance travel:
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Featherweights & Junior Welterweights: +2 lbs permitted
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Middleweights: +2.5 lbs permitted
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Heavyweights: No limit applies
Moreover, there are many new tools that will be used to ensure there is a winner in the bout:
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Standard 10-Point Must: Judges still use boxing’s conventional scoring in each round.
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Expanded “C/M/D/E” Notation: Alongside numerical scores, judges label the round as Close (C), Moderate (M), Decisive (D), or Extreme (E) to reflect the margin of dominance.
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Tiebreakers: If the official scores result in a numerical draw, the C/M/D/E system acts as a second layer for determining the victor. Should it still be even (an extremely rare situation), a panel of supervisors will rule on a final decision.
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Open Scoring: Scores revealed after rounds 2 & 4
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Instant Replay: Allows referees to review any contentious call (e.g., knockdowns, fouls) to ensure correct rulings. Offers immediate protest capability if a fighter’s team believes a foul or knockdown was missed.
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30-Second Buzzer: Sounds in the final half-minute of each round, pushing fighters to finish the frame aggressively. Intended to discourage excessive caution and motivate last-minute action.
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Elevated Judges: Each judge sits on a higher platform ringside to gain an unobstructed view. This experimental seating aims to reduce miscalls caused by poor angles.
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Green & Gold Theme: Replaces the standard red-blue corners with green and gold, echoing the iconic WBC belt. Boxers are asked to wear uniforms that align with these colors, reinforcing brand identity.
The ultimate winner in each division will hoist the José Sulaimán Trophy, named after the late WBC president who conceptualized a World Cup-like competition over a decade ago. His son, Mauricio Sulaiman, has picked up the mantle:
“We expect to have the future stars coming out of this tournament,” says Sulaiman. “This was my father’s dream, and we’re proud to see it happen in Saudi Arabia with the support of Turki Alalshikh and the Middle East Boxing Commission.”
