WBC Grand Prix of Boxing will feature young prospects under 26 with less than 10 fights experience
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman and Turki Alalshikh have announced a brand-new tournament giving prospects a unique and valuable chance to make a name for themselves.
The ‘WBC Grand Prix of Boxing’ will consist of 128 prospects across featherweight, super-lightweight, middleweight & heavyweight with an age limit of 26 set, with fighters only allowed to enter if they have had 10 or less professional fights.
The tournament will start in February.
The announcement came during the WBC 62nd Annual Convention in Hamburg on Monday, December 9.
The format featuring 128 prospects across four weight classes was a dream of Mauricio’s beloved late father, Don Jose.
Entrants will be no older than 26 with 10 fights or less on their records.
The 32-man tournaments are planned to begin in February 2025, with quarter-finals and semi-finals over eight-rounds, and the finals set for 10-rounds, to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The weight classes are:
Featherweight
Super-lightweight
Middleweight
Heavyweight
Man of the Year
Turki Alalshikh dedicated the WBC “Man of the Year” Award to HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, December 9, 2024.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the global promotion and development of boxing, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has presented its prestigious “Man of the Year” award to HE Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA).
The award ceremony took place on Monday evening in Hamburg, Germany.
In his remarks, Turki Alalshikh dedicated this international honour to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stating, “His Royal Highness has been our inspiration and primary supporter in achieving this unprecedented milestone.”
This award is considered one of the highest accolades in the boxing world, previously bestowed upon several distinguished figures throughout its history.
Notable recipients include former South African President Nelson Mandela, honoured in 1999; former U.S. President Ronald Reagan; and Pope Francis in 2019.
Established in 1963 and headquartered in Mexico City, the World Boxing Council (WBC) is one of the foremost organizations governing professional boxing worldwide.
Renowned for its iconic green championship belt, the WBC sets global standards for the sport, enhances safety measures, and oversees world championship bouts.