Non-heavyweight participants won’t have to worry about making a hard divisional weight limit.

BoxingScene has confirmed that a weight tolerance is in place for the featherweight, junior welterweight and middleweight divisions of the inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix tournament. The rule was implemented given the travel conditions for the majority of the boxers set to compete this week, live on DAZN from Global Theatre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

“The WBC Tournament Competition Committee in conjunction with the Middle East Boxing Commission and NAS Medical Limited hereby informs all fighters that there will be a tolerance to the weigh-in,” participants were informed in an official notice obtained by BoxingScene. “[This is] as a result to the water retention know[n] to occur in the immediate period after long-distance air travel.”

Fighters participating in the featherweight and junior welterweight divisions are each granted a two-pound allowance (limits of 128lbs and 142lbs). The middleweights are permitted two-and-a-half pounds (a limit of 162.5lbs). 

The ruling does not affect the heavyweight division, given there is already no weight limit. 

Each division carries 32 participants, with each weight division's opening 16 matches spotlighted on its own day. The featherweights are up first on Thursday, April 17. Friday’s offering will feature the junior welterweights. Middleweights are up after that on Saturday, while the heavyweights will throw down on Sunday.

All 64 bouts are scheduled for six rounds apiece. Each day’s event will begin at 3 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET/1 p.m. BST). Participants are required to weigh in the day before at 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET/8 a.m. BST). 

Winners from this week’s bouts will advance to the Sweet 16 round. 

Among the unique rules in place: 

  • There will be a confirmed winner in every bout. 
  • Tiebreaker procedures are in place in the event that the scores are knotted at the end of six rounds. In addition to the 10-point must-system, judges are required to grade the advantage for the winning boxer of that round: C (close), M (moderate), D (decisive) or E (extreme).  
  • Open scoring will be implemented, a common practice for WBC-sanctioned global bouts (excluding the U.S., U.K. and select other markets).
  • Instant replay will be fully utilized to confirm in-ring rulings (knockdowns, fouls, etc.) or for immediate protest if it is believed such a call was missed.
  • In addition to the 10-second clapper and the final bell, a 30-second buzzer will sound – with the intention to motivate the boxers to pick up the pace, particularly in perceived close rounds.
  • Green and gold corners will replace the traditional red and blue. Boxers will wear uniforms in accordance with this color scheme, reflective of the WBC belt. 
  • All boxers are subject to random drug testing as contracted through VADA. 

Participants cannot be more than 26 years of age or have more than 10 pro bouts upon tournament entry. 

The final winner of each division will be presented with the Jose Sulaimán Trophy, named after the late and long-reigning WBC president. The sanctioning body has been run by Mauricio Sulaiman, Jose’s youngest son, who has served as president since 2014. 

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.