Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Apr 2025
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (April 18, 2025) – Undefeated Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran (8-0, 3 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten Isaiah “Kyree-James” Johnson (11-1, 7 KOs) earlier today by way of a six-round split decision in arguably the Fight of the Night in the preliminary round (16 bouts) of the inaugural Riyadh Season/World Boxing Council (WBC) Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 26-year-old Johnson is a Philadelphia southpaw fighter from the United States.
“I just want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career,” Basran said after his fight. “A special thanks to my coach, Jon Quinit, and my promotional team, Three Lions Promotions. A special thanks to Turki Al-Sheikh, Mauricio Sulaimán, and the entire WBC staff. I’m in it to win it and I can’t wait for the next round.”
All winners of the 16 preliminary round bouts advance to the quarterfinals (16 fighters, 8 bouts) of the Grand Prix tournament in June. Basran will take on Ukrainian southpaw Danylo Lozan (13-0, 8 KOs), who won a six-round unanimous decision over reigning Eurasian Boxing Parlement Champion Kamronbek Eshmatov (10-2, 7 KOs) to advance. Lozan, 22, captured a gold medal at the European U-23 Championships.
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 single-elimination tournament is being streamed live exclusively on www.dazn.com/wbc. It started with a total of 128 fighters in four weight classes - featherweight, super lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight – and the first preliminary round concludes this Sunday.
“I gave my word before the tournament started that Basran is going to win the tournament.
Round one is done, and he showed his skill set,” Basran’s promoter Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions) commented. “He was by far the most skilled boxer in his weight class. Thanks to WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and Turki Al-Sheikh for making this possible.”
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.
The opening round of 32 matches had scheduled six-round bouts, which will increase 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:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION APRIL 20 APRIL 2026: Baumgardner Outpoints Shin, Retains IBF/WBA/WBO 130 Lb Titles; Daniels Stops Green in 9; Lorente SD Collins in WBC Welter Eliminator
By Eric Armit, Tue, 21 Apr 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Year of Memories Between the Ring and Faith
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Tue, 21 Apr 2026High Stakes in Ufa: Subkhankulov and Usmonov Clash for IBF #2 Spot
By Dong Secuya, Tue, 21 Apr 2026Elorde Jr. is new PBF president
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 21 Apr 2026Ancajas wins 1st bout as feather
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 21 Apr 2026Ito knockouts Lerasan in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 21 Apr 2026Kristian ‘KP’ Prenga developing into Albanian heavyweight boxing GOAT
Tue, 21 Apr 2026IIEE PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe amazed with GAB Chairman Rivera’s advocacy for chess players
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 21 Apr 2026‘CALM’ PERO READY TO FACE MILLER’S FIRE
Tue, 21 Apr 2026Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez's son Aaron wins professional debut
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 21 Apr 2026Top Super Featherweights Tsendy Erdenebat & Cobia Breedy Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Tue, 21 Apr 2026Registration Now Open for the Return of the Butterfly Brawl at the Iconic Santa Monica Pier – August 22, 2026
Tue, 21 Apr 2026Brackets Set for USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team at World Boxing Cup - Stage One
Tue, 21 Apr 2026Team Altagracia Primus Praedia Land Holding champ in Pacquiao chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 21 Apr 20262-Division World Champion Daniel Ponce De León Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Tue, 21 Apr 2026