The WBC have announced a 128 man boxing Grand Prix to promote up and coming fighters.
WBC in partnership with Riyadh Season have brought together 128 men to face each other in a boxing Grand Prix being branded as the Boxing World Cup.
The announcement has come after rumours of the WBC creating this tournament style to entice new fans into watching boxing prospects.
This also aligns with Turki Alalshikh and his insistence that the losses column on a record should not matter nor should it affect fighters opportunity.
So how does the tournament work?
It will include Four weight categories: Featherweight, Super Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight.
128 athletes: 32 participants in each of the divisions.
41 participating countries: enforcing the World Cup like comparisons.
Five events all taking place in Saudi Arabia in conjunction with Riyadh Season.
No draws: decisive results in every fight.
Open scoring: after rounds 2, 4 and 6, providing transparency and excitement. This means fighters and corners will know the scores after rounds 2, 4 and 6 meaning they can adjust there games plans accordingly to the scores.
Instant replay: ensuring fair and accurate scoring by officials. Something which many fans have called for which could have been key in many previous big fights.
So now we know the How Where and Why. Now for the Who can take part?
The age limit has been capped at 26 years old. The boxers record will have No more than 15 professional bouts.
Finally the fighters will have to be from the following Weight Divisions: Featherweight, Super Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight.
All the Saudi Arabian base events will be broadcasted as a part of the DAZN boxing broadcast.
WBC President Is Buzzing-
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman is very excited to get started.
“With the incredible support and vision of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Dr. Rakan, we are bringing to life a tournament that will revolutionize the sport and unearth incredible new talents. This is the first event where young talents will have the opportunity to come out from unknown parts of the world to shine through the Grand Prix. This tournament is a testament to the vision and passion of my father, José Sulaiman. When I shared my father’s dream with Turki Alalshikh, he immediately said: “Let’s make it a reality.”
Despite creating his own boxing promotion alongside UFC head Dana White, Turki Alalshikh has given his full backing.
“This is a dream from a great man like Jose Sulaiman and thank God his son Mauricio has continued it and we will support the Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix with all our might to make it a worldwide success,”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
