Undefeated Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran (7-0, 3 KOs) leaves shortly to compete April 17-20 in the inaugural Riyadh Season/World Boxing Council (WBC) Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The single-elimination tournament will be streamed live exclusively on www.dazn.com/wbc, featuring a total of 128 fighters in four weight classes: featherweight, super lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight.
All fighters will be subject to random drug testing in compliance with the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program, as well as Riyadh Season’s commitment to VADA testing.
“I’m honored, excited and grateful,” the 26-year-old Basran said about competing in the WBC Grand Prix. “I’ll be showcasing my skills to the world. I’m glad to have more exposure. I should have had 15 pro fights by now, but a lot of fights fell out. I signed with Three Lions Promotions and they’re looking for bigger opportunities for me like this. The Grand Prix can open up a lot more opportunities for me, because I haven’t been exposed enough, and I can get to another level. It’s great to be able to gauge myself against some of the best super lightweight prospects in the world. This is like a stepping-stone.”
As an amateur boxer, Basran was a four-time Canadian National Champion, who won the 2019 Canadian Olympic Qualifier, in addition to capturing a bronze medal at the 2019 Commonwealth Games.
The Surrey, British Columbia native has only fought in Canada and Mexico as in pro, but he did travel extensively as an amateur boxer, competing in Russia, Czech Republic, Australia and all-over South America.
“I know a lot of people don’t think we have good fighters in Canada,” Basran noted. “I’m going to make a statement that I’m talented and want the biggest fights. This trip is all business for me. At the end of the day, my mindset is the same as it is for any fight, and I’ll adjust to my opponents when I get into the ring. I know everything is lined up for me.”
Projected leading contenders in the wide-open super lightweight division reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) Champion Alan “El Rusito” David Crenz (14-1, 14 KOs), of Argentina; WBC Asian Lightweight Champion Jerald “Truman” Into (11-0, 9 KOs), of Philippines. International Boxing Federation (IBF) Asian Lightweight Champion Danzelli Onyango Okoth (5-0, 3 KOs), of Kenya; 2024 ASBC Elite Men’s Championships gold medalist Mujbillo Tursunov (5-0, 2 KOs), of Uzbekistan; European U-23 gold medalist Danylo Lozan (12-0, 8 KOs), of Ukraine; Eurasian Boxing Parlement Super Lightweight Champion Kamronbek Eshmatov (10-1, 7 KOs), of Uzbekistan; and former WBC FECARBOX Lightweight Champion Misael “Pichon” Cabrera Urias (15-2-1, 11 KOs), of Mexico.
Other leading challengers include Spanish Lightweight Champion Jokin Garcia (10-1-1, 7 KOs), Australian Lightweight Champion Hassan Hamdan (9-0, 3 KOs), 2018 Egypt Youth Olympian Marwan Mamdouh Mohamed Madboly (5-0, 3 KOs), South African Super Lightweight Champion Ntethelelo Nkosi (7-2, 4 KOs), Poland Super Lightweight Champion Bartolomoij (9-0, 3 KOs), Ghana Boxing Authority Super Lightweight Champion Samuel “No Chance” Quaye (10-1, 7 KOs), 2018 Kazakh National Champion Sanatali Toltaysev (2-0, 1 KO), reigning Argentinian Lightweight Champion Alan Ezequiel Dutra (14-0, 8 KOs), 2019 Canadian Amateur Championship gold medalist Spencer Wilcox (10-0, 5 KOs), and United Kingdom’s Tommy “Gun” Collins (11-0, 2 KOs) and Nathan Forest (9-0, 3 KOs).
“We have reviewed the list of opponents in the super lightweight division of the WBC Grand Prix, and we are confident that Eric has what it takes to come out on top,” Basran’s promoter Dan Otter commented. “He is ready to seize this opportunity and win. This is a huge milestone for the WBC, under the leadership of President Mauricio Sulaimán, and a testament to the vision and dedication of His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh in bringing the World Cup of Boxing to life.”
The opening round of 32 matches will feature scheduled six-round bouts, increasing to eight for the final rounds in each division, and participating fighters will represent more than 40 counties from around the world.
The four divisional winners will be presented with the Jose Sulaimán Trophy, named after the late WBC President Jose Sulaimán, who first envisioned a prospect-based Boxing Grand Prix more than a decade ago.
There will be open scoring after the second and fourth rounds, a buzzer will sound 30 seconds prior to the end of each round, instant replay will be implemented, and no draws.
Below is an unofficial WBC Grand Prix super lightweight roster:
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS
(Subject to Change)
Joseph Abudy 6-0, 3 KOs USA
Michael “Money” Adesodun 9-1-1, 7 KOs Nigeria
Eric Basran 7-0, 3 KOs Canada
Criztec Bazaldua 6-0, 1 KO USA
Crisalito Beltran 8-0, 6 KOs Philippines
German Brochero 10-0, 10 KOs Venezuela
Tommy “Gun” Collins 11-0, 2 KOs UK
Alan “El Rusito” David Crenz 14-1, 14 KOs Argentina
Alan Ezequiel Dutra 14-0, 8 KOs Argentina
Kamronbek Eshmatov 10-1, 7 KOs Uzbekistan
Nathan Forrest 9-0, 3 KOs UK
Jokin Garcia 10-1-1, 7 KOs Spain
Hassan Hamdan 9-0, 3 KOs Australia
Jerald “Truman” Into 11-0, 9 KOs Philippines
Isaiah “Kyree-James” Johnson 11-0, 7 KOs USA
Ahmad Muhammad Jones 10-0, 7 KOs USA
Efe Derin Konuk 12-0-1, 7 KOs Thailand
Danylo Lozan 12-0, 8 KOs Ukraine
Marwan Mamdouh Mohamed Madboly 5-0, 3 KOs Egypt
Ntethelelo Nkosi 7-2, 4 KOs South Africa
Bartolomoij Przybala 9-0, 3 KOs Poland
Adlay Rodriguez 6-0, 6 KOs Cuba
Samuel “No Chance” Quaye 10-1, 7 KOs Ghana
Nurzham Serikbayev 5-0, 5 KOs Kazakhstan
Orlando Aaron Barajas Tirado 6-0, 2 KOs Mexico
Sanatali Toltaysev 2-0, 1 KO Kazakhstan
Mujbillo Tursunov 5-0, 2 KOs Uzbekistan
Carlos Utria 9-0, 9 KOs Colombia
Misael “Pichon” Cabrera Urias 15-2-1, 11 KOs México
Spencer Wilcox 10-0, 5 KOs Canada
