WBC Grand Prix: Phase 1, Day 4

Piotr Lacz vs. Michael Pirotton:
Lacz wins by UD.

Jeremy Alvarez vs. Hajji Muhis:
Muhis wins by UD.

Tsotne Rogava vs. Lewis Clarke:
Rogava wins by TKO in the 2nd round.

Steven Torres vs. Jonathan Exequiel Vergara:
Vergara wins by UD.

Devon Young vs. Pavlo Yuskiv:
Young wins by KO in the 2nd round.

Pavol Hrivnak vs. Reagan Apanu:
Apanu wins by MD.

Denzel Onyango Okoth vs. Alija Mesic:
Mesic wins by TKO in the 1st round.

Morten Givskov vs. Youness Baalla:
Draw (Baalla advances by WBC tiebreaker).

Lazizbek Mullojonov vs. Marvin Mendoza:
Mullojonov wins by TKO in the 3rd round.

Kevin Cristopher Ramirez vs. Brian Zwart:
Ramirez wins by KO in the 1st round.

Keaton Gomes vs. Roberto Medina Aguirre:
Gomes wins by TKO in the 1st round.

Davide Brito vs. Clement Gillet:
Brito wins by UD.

Yordy Valenzuela Santos vs. Ahmed Krnjic:
Krnjic wins by TKO in the 3rd round.

Emiliano Ezequiel Mendoza vs. Pengyang Wu:
Mendoza wins by UD.

Vitaliy Stalchenko vs. Dylan Rajic:
Stalchenko wins by UD.

Emrullah Kaya vs. Marko Milun:
Milun wins by KO in the 1st round.

Dante Stone vs. Indalesio Teran:
Stone wins by KO in the 2nd 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:

• Featherweight (up to 128 lbs with tolerance)
• Junior Welterweight (up to 142 lbs with tolerance)
• Middleweight (up to 162.5 lbs with tolerance)
• 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.

• April 17: Featherweights
• April 18: Junior Welterweights
• April 19: Middleweights
• 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:

• Featherweights & Junior Welterweights: +2 lbs permitted
• Middleweights: +2.5 lbs permitted
• Heavyweights: No limit applies

Moreover, there are many new tools that will be used to ensure there is a winner in the bout:

1. Standard 10-Point Must: Judges still use boxing’s conventional scoring in each round.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Open Scoring: Scores revealed after rounds 2 & 4

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.”

Watch this event live on YouTube: Watch