Rising Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran draws undefeated Isaiah Johnson for Friday's opening round of the inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 18 Apr 2025
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (April 17, 2025) – Undefeated Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran (7-0, 3 KOs) has drawn unbeaten Isaiah “Kyree-James” Johnson (11-0, 7 KOs) for tomorrow’s (Friday) preliminary round of the inaugural Riyadh Season/World Boxing Council (WBC) Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Johnson, 26, is a southpaw fighter from Philadelphia, who has also won 13 of 14 fights (0 KOs) in the Team Combat League.
“I’m ready for anyone,” Basran said. “I’m focused and this is my time to shine.”
Basran vs. Johnson is the co-main event as the 15th of 16 scheduled matches.
“Eric drew one of the toughest fighters in the first round, but that’s what we want,” Basran’s promoter Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions) added. “We want Eric to fight the best to be the best.”
All winners of the 16 preliminary round bouts advance to the next round in June.
The single-elimination tournament is being streamed live exclusively on www.dazn.com/wbc, featuring a total of 128 fighters in four weight classes - featherweight, super lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight – and the preliminary round concludes this Sunday.
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.
Basran, fighting out of Surrey, British Columbia, as an amateur 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 opening round of 32 matches are scheduled six-round bouts, which increases to eight for the final rounds in each division, and participating fighters represent more than 40 countries from around the world.
In addition to the $200,000 winner’s purse, the four divisional winners will receive 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 is open scoring after the second and fourth rounds, a buzzer sounds 30 seconds prior to the end of each round, instant replay may be implemented, and no draws are guaranteed.
INFORMATION:
Website: www.threelionspromotions.com
Facebook: /ThreeLionsPromotions /ericbasranboxing
Instagram: @3LionsPromotions @ericbasranboxing
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Vergil Ortiz vs. Erickson Lubin: Can Lubin Tip the Ortiz/Ennis Apple Cart?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Gibbons’ ‘Thrilla’ regrets
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Erickson Lubin Set for Explosive Showdown in Fort Worth
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Ring Officials Announced for Michael Hunter Vs Eli Frankham - York Hall, 5th December
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Baseball in the Sulaimán Family
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Shields signs $8 million multi year contract with Salita Promotions
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 08 Nov 2025A TIBUTE TO VICTOR CONTE
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Lhuillier Lauds RP Blu Boys’ Triumph in Japan Tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 08 Nov 2025FIDE Rated Chess Tournament Pasig Police Board Patrol Checkpoint Challenge
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 08 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO VS. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. ONCE AGAIN
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 07 Nov 2025NBA Reportedly Met with Congress Regarding Gambling Issues
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 07 Nov 2025IM Dableo and IM Banawa Headline 17th Kamatyas FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 07 Nov 2025VERGIL ORTIZ VS ERICKSON LUBIN FINAL PRESSCON QUOTES
Fri, 07 Nov 2025WBC maintains protection of women's boxing with 2-minute rounds
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 07 Nov 2025Muntinlupa tops Sambo demo
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 07 Nov 2025