Mauricio Sulaimán, President of the World Boxing Council, saw his groundbreaking tournament progress smoothly as all competitors successfully made weight on June 19 for the second phase of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The weigh-in confirmed that the ambitious tournament - the first world boxing championship of its kind - will proceed as scheduled on June 20-21, with fighters across four weight divisions ready to battle for quarter-final spots.
This second phase represents a critical juncture in the five-part tournament created by Sulaimán in partnership with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Councilor of the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia. The competition began in April and will continue through August and October before culminating in December's grand finale.
Currently, 16 boxers from 28 countries compete in each of the four divisions: featherweight, super-lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. The numbers have been halved since the first phase, which featured an impressive 128 boxers from 39 different countries in a single-elimination format.
Worth noting - organizers approved a 2-pound weight tolerance for featherweight and super-lightweight divisions, with middleweight fighters receiving a 2.5-pound allowance. This accommodation recognized the challenges of long-distance travel and limited adjustment time in Arabian territory.
The action kicks off Friday with super-lightweight and middleweight bouts, followed by featherweight and heavyweight contests on Saturday. All fights will stream live on DAZN with specific broadcast times varying by region.
For the winners, the stakes are significant: a cash prize, mandatory fight for the WBC Silver title in their respective weight class, and the prestigious José Sulaimán Trophy.
Can this innovative tournament format revitalize international boxing competition? The next chapter unfolds this weekend.
