Nigeria’s sole remaining contender in the inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix, Yusuf Adeniji Adisa, is set to return to Riyadh for the second phase of the tournament, which runs from June 20 to 21, 2025.
Adisa, who boasts an unblemished professional record of 15 wins with 10 knockouts (15-0-0, 10 KOs), will represent Nigeria in the Round of 32 when he takes on Kazakhstan’s Alexandr (8-1-0, 7 KOs) in a featherweight bout. The high-stakes clash offers a ticket to the Round of 16 and a step closer to the prestigious Jose Sulaimán Trophy.
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Out of the initial four Nigerian boxers who entered the Grand Prix, Adisa is the only one to progress past the opening round. His return marks a significant moment for Nigerian boxing as the country’s hopes rest solely on his shoulders.
The WBC Grand Prix, also referred to as the first-ever Boxing World Cup, is a long-anticipated vision of the late WBC President, José Sulaimán. This historic event was officially launched in April 2025 as part of the Riyadh Season, under the patronage of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
Tournament Overview
The opening phase of the WBC Grand Prix featured 128 fighters from around the globe competing across four weight divisions: featherweight, junior welterweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. Following a four-day opening round, 64 boxers advanced to the second phase.
All 32 second-round bouts will be contested over six rounds, with distinctive tournament rules designed to guarantee a winner in every fight. In the event of a tie on the scorecards, judges will implement a tiebreaker system that includes evaluating each round as close (C), moderate (M), decisive (D), or extreme (E).
Other innovative features include:
Full use of instant replay to verify in-ring rulings or protests.
A unique 30-second buzzer to encourage late-round action.
Boxers fighting out of green and gold corners instead of the traditional red and blue, reflecting the iconic WBC belt colors.
Mandatory VADA-contracted random drug testing for all participants.
The ultimate goal remains unchanged — to crown the last boxer standing in each weight category, with the victor receiving the coveted Jose Sulaimán Trophy.
As Yusuf Adeniji Adisa prepares for his critical bout, Nigeria’s boxing faithful will be hoping he extends his unbeaten streak and secures a place among the tournament’s elite 16.
