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:
Abdullah Mason Returns Home for Lightweight World Title Defense against Joe Cordina July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
Wed, 06 May 2026Christopher Guerrero to face Delante Johnson on July 4 at the CSU Wolstein Center in Cleveland!
Wed, 06 May 2026Yanong and Horiike make weight in Japan for OPBF 140 lb. title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 05 May 2026Kulog at Kidlat: Boxing, Art, Thunder and Lightning at the 3rd Pacquiao–Elorde Awards
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 05 May 2026Camique forced to fight after food poisoning; hospitalized after losing by UD
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 05 May 2026Tony Tolj Previews Thunderdome 54
Tue, 05 May 2026Mexican boxing historian Eduardo Lamazón passes away at 70
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 05 May 2026NM Rolly Parondo rules Thailand FIDE Rated Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 05 May 2026Wardley vs Dubois: 95% KO Power Collides in Manchester — Winner Gets Usyk Next
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 05 May 2026Former Cuban champions Gamboa and Rigondeaux returns on May 30 in Fort Lauderdale
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 05 May 2026Pido to defend crown in SIGLO 100km Ultramarathon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 05 May 2026Yanong arrives in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 04 May 2026OLEKSANDR USYK VS RICO VERHOEVEN ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR HISTORIC UNDISPUTED CLASH IN EGYPT – LIVE ON DAZN
Mon, 04 May 2026Parade of champs
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 03 May 2026David Surov outboxes Kevin Martinez at IBA.PRO Russia vs World
Sun, 03 May 2026