Clash of Champions: Inside the Inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix

The WBC Boxing Grand Prix is an inaugural tournament launched in cooperation with Riyadh Season, featuring 128 emerging boxers across four weight classes—featherweight, super‑lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight—competing in a single‑elimination bracket with novel rules such as open scoring, a 30‑second audible alert before each round ends, and no possibility of draws, all broadcast exclusively on DAZN. Conceived originally by former WBC president José Sulaimán and formally announced by current president Mauricio Sulaimán alongside Saudi sports chief Turki Alalshikh at the WBC convention in December 2024, the Grand Prix aims to revitalize the sport by providing rising talent a global stage and awarding each division’s champion the José Sulaimán Trophy.

Background and Conception

Origins and Announcement

During the WBC’s annual convention in December 2024, Turki Alalshikh and Mauricio Sulaimán unveiled plans for what they termed “the World Cup of the sport,” outlining a year‑long Grand Prix tournament intended to showcase boxing’s next generation. Alalshikh emphasized that the event would uphold rigorous safety standards and pure sporting integrity, distinguishing it from exhibition “shows”. The concept traces back to ideas first floated by José Sulaimán before his death in 2014, with the new tournament honoring his legacy through the José Sulaimán Trophy awarded to each division’s winner.

Format and Rules

128 fighters will be split evenly across the four weight categories—featherweight, super‑lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight—with each bracket beginning with a round of 32. Initial bouts in each division consist of six three‑minute rounds; quarterfinals and semifinals will extend to eight rounds, while finals are scheduled for ten rounds. To enhance spectator engagement and fairness, all fights employ open scoring with judges revealing scores after rounds 2 and 4, accompanied by a 30‑second auditory countdown before each round’s end, and the rules eliminate the possibility of draws so that every bout produces a decisive winner.

2025 Riyadh Season Launch

Venue and Schedule

The inaugural phase kicked off April 17–20, 2025 at the BLVD City Global Theater in Riyadh, with 16 fights staged each day across the featherweight division. DAZN holds exclusive live broadcast rights worldwide, supplemented by highlight packages on demand.

Featherweight Highlights

• Muhamet Qamili vs. Ihor Semonchuk: In a clash of undefeated records, Italy’s Qamili secured a unanimous decision, improving to 15‑0 and eliminating Semonchuk to advance to the last‑16.
• Maikel Ordosgoitti vs. Angel Sauceda Hinojosa: Sauceda scored a third‑round knockdown and cruised to a 6‑round UD (58‑55 x3), punching his ticket into the June super‑lightweight bracket where he’ll face Iman Lee.
• Lorenzo V. Lopez vs. Zhou [First Stage]: Early reports indicate Lopez dominated all three rounds to win 60‑54 and move forward in the featherweight draw.

Participating Fighters and Notable Names

The full roster spans top prospects under age 26 from around the globe, with national champions, undefeated contenders, and regional titleholders all vying for glory. While the heavyweight field is perceived as the most experimental, the middleweight and super‑lightweight brackets feature several ranked contenders poised to make significant breakthroughs. Each winner not only captures the José Sulaimán Trophy but also secures high‑profile slots on future Riyadh Season cards, ensuring lucrative purses and global visibility.

Significance for Boxing

By structuring a World Cup‑style knockout, the WBC aims to inject renewed excitement into boxing’s competitive landscape, streamline contender selection, and elevate emerging athletes above the fragmentation of traditional rankings. The partnership with Riyadh Season and high‑tech rule innovations underscore a broader push to modernize boxing presentation and fan engagement.

Upcoming Phases and Outlook

Following the featherweights’ April battles, the super‑lightweight last‑16 is slated for June, with middleweight and heavyweight tournaments unfolding later in 2025 across global venues. Should this inaugural edition prove successful—both in sporting merit and commercial impact—the WBC has signaled intent to institutionalize the Grand Prix as a recurring feature of its calendar, potentially expanding weight categories and regional qualifiers in future years.

Conclusion

The WBC Boxing Grand Prix represents a bold experiment: melding traditional boxing values with tournament drama and modern fan‑friendly innovations. As the first José Sulaimán Trophy winners emerge from Riyadh, all eyes will turn to how this format reshapes career trajectories and influences the sport’s next era.