The WBC Grand Prix commenced on April 17 in Riyadh at the BLVD City Global Theater in Riyadh, live on DAZN.
The brand-new tournament is being conducted in several phases throughout 2025. The initial phase of bouts is taking place from April 17th to April 20th.
The aim of the Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix is to discover and promote emerging boxing talent on a global scale, providing them with a platform for increased recognition.
The first weight category to kick off the action was the featherweights.
Full list of boxers advancing to the next stage:
Muhamet Qamili (Italy)
Yoni Valverde (France)
Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov (Uzbekistan)
Zholdas Zhengissov (Kazakhstan)
Holy Dorgbetor (Ghana)
Bekizizwe Maite (South Africa)
Tyshawn Densson (USA)
Hector Munguia (Mexico)
Juma Choki (Tanzania)
Gully Powar (UK)
Troy Nash (USA)
Brandon Mejia (Mexico)
Jhon Bolaños (Colombia)
Iman Lee (USA)
Angel Sauceda (Mexico)
Yusuf Adisa
Muhamet Qamili (Italy) vs Ihor Semonchuk (Ukraine)
The Italian fighter secured victory via unanimous decision in a bout that see-sawed back and forth. Qamili improved his record to 15-0, seizing his opponent’s undefeated record and becoming the first featherweight to advance to the next stage of the tournament.
Yoni Valverde (France) vs Zhou Runqi (China)
Valverde earned a unanimous decision after providing a disciplined and offensive game plan. The French fighter maintained control of the action throughout and was the deserving winner.
Djamal Hadjab (France) vs Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov (Uzbekistan)
The Uzbekistan fighter demonstrated his power and affirmed his potential as a tournament winner by defeating the valiant Bakhtiyorov by TKO. The 20-year-old Bakhtiyorov sent his French opponent to the canvas in the first round with a powerful combination. In the second stanza, he landed a solid blow that rocked the Frenchman. Hadjab proved his bravery and displayed agility, utilising various angles to connect with strong combinations, but he was stopped in round six of six.
Zholdas Zhengissov (Kazakhstan) vs El Yazid Ezzaidani (Spain)
Zhengissov achieved victory after a challenging start. In the second round, he put El Yazid in a precarious situation, securing the tournament’s first KO.
Holy Dorgbetor (Ghana) vs Oleksandr Solomennikov (Ukraine)
In what was one of the most emotionally charged and thrilling moments of the evening, the Ghanaian secured victory in an incredibly close contest. Holy was awarded the win by split decision.
Bekizizwe Maitse (South Africa) vs Rodolfo Puentes (Colombia)
Maitse ensured his passage to the next round through a brilliant performance. The fighter from South Africa won five of the six rounds and handed Rodolfo Puentes the first defeat of his pro career.
Tyshawn Denson (USA) vs Enoch Tettey Tetteh (Ghana)
The baby-faced American, known as 'Candy Man', showcased his defensive qualities to earn a comprehensive victory by unanimous decision, winning all six rounds on two of the three scorecards.
Yusuf Adisa (Nigeria) vs Carlos Andres Arteaga Orona (Mexico)
This was the first bout to end in an indecisive draw, and the Enhanced Scoring System was employed for the first time to determine Yusuf Adisa as the victor.
Hector Munguía Jr. (Mexico) vs Idris Gbadamosi (Nigeria)
An aggressive first round and fast start saw Munguía engaging at close range with a tight guard, while Gbadamosi attempted to use his greater height. Munguía forced the action and began to shift the momentum in his favour. Despite the African’s bravery, Munguía managed to knock him out in the sixth and final round.
Brandon Mosqueda (Mexico) vs Bishara Sabbar (Jordan)
The Mexican Mosqueda started the first round showing off his elusive style, while connecting with strong combinations from behind a disciplined guard and evading blows with significant trunk movement. By the second round, Mosqueda further tipped the scales in his favour, by landing solid shots that sent Sabbar crashing to the canvas on twice. Sabbar rose to his feet with clear intention of continuing; however, Mosqueda came out more aggressively for the third round, and secured victory by knockout.
Llamido Japhethlee (USA) vs Gullraj Singh Powar (UK)
What began as a bout of alternating dominance culminated with the fighter from the United Kingdom, Gully Powar, controlling the action through his powerful punches. Japhethlee displayed gallantry, attempting to get on top in the final round; however, Wolverhampton's Singh Powar secured the victory with identical scores of 59 to 55.
Jhon Sebastian Bolaño Mendoza (Colombia) vs Jermaine Dervon Hardison (USA)
Despite his shorter reach, Jhon Sebastian Bolaño managed to penetrate Jermaine Dervon’s guard to land the more effective blows. Based on an active offense, the Colombian fighter was able to deliver Jermaine with his first professional defeat.
Iman Lee (USA) vs Juan Albornoz (Argentina)
Reserve fighter Juan Albornoz stepped in to face Imán Lee. The Argentinian fighter forced the action, while Iman Lee had to work out and solve the puzzle in front of him to secure victory by majority decision.
Angel Sauceda (Mexico) vs Maikel Ordosgoitti (Venezuela)
The Mexican southpaw engaged in a power-for-power duel against Venezuelan Maikel, who fell to the canvas in the third round. The reigning Venezuelan bantamweight champion got back up to see out the fight to the final bell; however, it wasn't quite, as the unbeaten Mexican, 22, moved up to 12-0 with a unanimous decision scored 58-55.