Mauricio Sulaimán is finally in a position to carry out the dream envisioned by his late father more than a decade ago.

The longtime president of the WBC confirmed that the sanctioning body’s long-planned, prospect-based Boxing Grand Prix is set to launch in April. An exact date was not provided during the announcement on Thursday, which was offered as part of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol II final pre-fight press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“My father was in boxing all his life,” the younger Sulaimán told the assembled media and crowd on Thursday. “He grew up seeing all the sacrifices of fighters from all over the world. He had a dream. He passed away eleven years ago when he was just going to start the Professional Boxing World Cup.

“Fourteen months ago, the boxing world has changed due to the arrival of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season and the leader, his Excellency Turki Alalshikh. When I had the honor to meet with Turki Alalshikh, I recognized his passion for the sport and its boxers. When I shared with him my father’s dream, he said immediately, ‘Let’s make it happen.’”

The entirety of the event will take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 128 fighters competing across four weight divisions—featherweight, junior welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight.

Each weight class will have its own tournament consisting of 32 fighters each. The winner of each to be presented with the Jose Sulaimán Trophy, named after the late, great WBC president.

The opening Round of 32 bouts will be scheduled for six rounds each. Sulaimán revealed on Thursday that the final for each bracket will be eight-round bouts, a modification from when the concept was first revealed during the annual WBC convention last December. It was suggested at the time that the finals would be scheduled for ten rounds.

Previously revealed details stipulated the participants cannot be older than 26 years of age or have more than ten pro bouts at the time of entry. All fighters will be subject to random drug testing, in compliance with the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program and Riyadh Season’s commitment to VADA testing.

The tournament will include open scoring, a WBC staple for its sanctioned bouts in most countries (though not the United States). Instant replay will be fully utilized, and bouts cannot end in a draw. It is believed that an overtime round will be assigned on such occasions, though firm details were not provided as this goes to publication.

Most importantly, prospects who are not immediately scooped up by a major promoter now have a pathway to a loftier goal. Additionally, each boxer will be handsomely rewarded for its participation—and more so with each victory.

“This is the first-ever event in which the young talent will come out from the unknown parts of the world and have the opportunity to shine through the Grand Prix of Boxing,” stated Sulaimán