Undefeated Surrey-based Canadian junior welterweight prospect Eric Basran (7-0, 3 KOs) has been selected to compete in the inaugural Riyadh Season/World Boxing Council (WBC) Grand Prix scheduled to start next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “This is the dream of every upcoming boxer,” an ecstatic Basran said, “and I am honored to be a part of this first ever WBC boxing World Cup “The competition looks tough in the junior welterweight division but that’s what I want. You must beat the best to be the best and I am in it to win it. I’m ready to put on a show.”

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

HAMILTON– Undefeated Surrey-based Canadian junior welterweight prospect Eric Basran (7-0, 3 KOs) has been selected to compete in the inaugural Riyadh Season/World Boxing Council (WBC) Grand Prix scheduled to start next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The entire tournament will take place in Saudi Arabia, featuring a total of 128 fighters in four weight classes: featherweight, junior welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight. Participants may not be older than 26 years of age or have more than 10 professional fights at the time of entry. 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.

 “This is the dream of every upcoming boxer,” an ecstatic Basran said, “and I am honored to be a part of this first ever WBC boxing World Cup “The competition looks tough in the junior welterweight division but that’s what I want. You must beat the best to be the best and I am in it to win it. I’m ready to put on a show.”

As an amateur boxer, Basran was a four-time Canadian National Champion, who won the 2019 Canadian Olympic Qualifier and captured a bronze medal at the 2019 Commonwealth Games. He turned pro on February 24, 2022, winning a four-round unanimous decision and Eric’s most recent fight was a victory by way of an opening-round knockout of Jorge Luis Rodriguez last October in London.

A native of Surrey, British Columbia, the 26-year-old Basran’s promoter is Three Lions Promotions.

 “Eric is ready for this opportunity, and he has looked outstanding training over the last couple of weeks,” promoter Daniel Otter (Three Lions Promotions) noted. “The Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix is a ground-breaking tournament. We are thankful that Mauricio Sulaimán and his Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, selected Eric and made this all possible. I am confident Eric has what it takes to win it all!”

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 countries 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.