The inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix, hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, came to a thrilling close with mixed results for Team Nigeria.
Four Nigerian boxers participated in the prestigious tournament, marking a historic moment for the country’s boxing scene.
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However, only one managed to secure a victory, as the others fell short in their bouts.
Rasheed Adeyemo vs. Isaac Torres
Middleweight boxer Rasheed Adeyemo suffered a tough defeat against Mexico’s Isaac Torres (15-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday, capping a string of three losses for Nigerian fighters at the event.
Torres clinched the win via TKO in the sixth round after an intense contest that saw momentum swing in the fifth when Torres scored a knockdown.
The fight had been closely contested in the earlier rounds, but Torres’ power and precision ultimately secured the stoppage.
Michael Adesodun vs. Mujibillo Tursunov
In another challenging matchup, Michael Adesodun was outclassed by Uzbekistan’s Mujibillo Tursunov. Tursunov dominated from the outset, scoring a knockdown in the third round and controlling the tempo throughout.
His decisive performance saw him advance to the next stage of the tournament with a commanding victory.
Yusuf Adeniji Adisa vs. Carlos Arteaga Orona
Yusuf Adeniji Adisa delivered Nigeria’s sole bright spot with a resilient performance against Mexican opponent Carlos Arteaga Orona. The six-round bout was tightly contested, with judges scoring the fight as follows:
One judge: 57–55 in favor of Adisa
Two judges: 56–56 (draw)
Despite the majority draw on the traditional scorecards, Adisa was awarded the win under the WBC’s new quantitative scoring system, which utilizes detailed performance metrics. Final tallies under this system were 65, 65, and 75 points in Adisa’s favor, securing his advancement in the tournament.
Idris Timileyin Gbadamosi vs. Hector Munguia Calderon
Nigerian featherweight Idris Timileyin Gbadamosi faced a formidable challenge in Mexico’s Hector Munguia Calderon. The bout, held on April 17, ended in the sixth round with Munguia claiming victory via technical knockout (TKO). Gbadamosi’s exit concluded Nigeria’s campaign at Stage One of the Grand Prix with three losses and one win.
Summary of Nigerian Boxers’ Results at WBC Grand Prix Stage One:
Rasheed Adeyemo – Loss to Isaac Torres (TKO6)
Michael Adesodun – Loss to Mujibillo Tursunov (Unanimous Decision)
Yusuf Adeniji Adisa – Win over Carlos Arteaga Orona (via quantitative scoring)
Idris Timileyin Gbadamosi – Loss to Hector Munguia Calderon (TKO6)
As the WBC Boxing Grand Prix progresses to its next stage, Team Nigeria will regroup and look to build on Adisa’s performance in future global competitions.
