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The WBC Grand Prix begins this week in Saudi Arabia, with 128 fighters from 41 different nations across the globe looking to become the latest emerging talents to break through in the sport.
Fighters from the featherweight, super-lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight divisions will compete over six-round contest, scored with a new enhanced scoring system that will ensure a conclusive victor.
The winner will receive the Jose Sulaimán Trophy also known as the flame of hope and announce themselves as one of the fighters to watch in the coming years. Here is a look at five potential fighters who could steal the show in the inaugural edition of the competition.
WBC Grand Prix Fighters To Watch
Lazizbek Mullojonov
The biggest name on this list, the talented Uzbek claimed gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris defeating Loren Alfonso via a unanimous 5-0 scoreline. The 25-year old has already amassed five victories via stoppage as a pro, beginning his pro career in 2021 before returning to the amateur set-up for the Olympics.
The Southpaw will be looking to utilise the WBC Grand Prix to announce himself on the world stage as one of the young heavyweights to watch in the coming years, with fellow Uzbek Bakhodir Jalolov providing an exiting future for the nation in the top division.
Vitaliy Stalchenko
The Ukrainian currently holds a pro record of 9-0 with six of those wins coming by way of stoppage. The 24-year old turned pro in 2023 following a stellar amateur career where he earned seven Ukrainian National Championships.
This will be the first time he fights in the heavyweight division having featured at cruiserweight up to this point, winning the Ukrainian cruiserweight title in September 2024 defeating Oleksii Zhuk over 10-rounds via unanimous decision.
Piotr Lacz
The heavy hitting Polish heavyweight has had a great start to his pro career having won 12 bouts and nine of those coming inside the distance. He has a less decorated amateur background compared to the two previously named fighters but will see the WBC Grand Prix as a great opportunity to climb the rankings and make a name for himself.
The 27-year old is currently ranked fifth in the Polish heavyweight rankings according to BoxRec and could be the nations star in a division where they are really lacking fire power at the elite level.
Viktor Jurk
The German fighter had an unorthodox entry into the sweet science having picked up a pair of gloves following a knee injury that halted a promising handball career. The towering 24-year old has already amassed 12 wins as a pro with nine of those victories coming by way of stoppage.
The southpaw picked up the first title in September 2024, defeating Edonis Berisha to be crowned the BDB German Heavyweight champion and will now have his eyes set on another title in Saudi Arabia.
Alija Mešić
Despite only being 22-years old this Bosnian heavyweight has the most storied combat sports career on this list. The orthodox heavyweight has in both professional boxing and bareknuckle boxing contests over the last year but now has his sights set on making waves in Saudi Arabia.
Mešić enters the WBC Grand Prix with one professional boxing contest under his belt, a 21 second knockout victory against Igor Suvacarev back in November 2024. The seven time Bosnian national boxing champion is more than happy to give and take punishment and could be a stern test for anyone he comes up against.
