The innovative rules for the inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Riyadh Season have now been revealed ahead of the opening day on April 17.

A total of 128 boxers split across four weight classes will meet in Riyadh over the course of the weekend April 17-20, with 16 fights per day which all be over six three-minute rounds. All the action will be broadcast worldwide exclusively on DAZN with highlights packages also available on the platform.

The weight classes who will compete in the first ever edition of the tournament are featherweight, super-lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight, with 32 boxers starting out in each.

The boxers in each weight class will be fighting it out for the Jose Sulaiman Trophy, named after the former long-reigning president of the WBC, who had initially thought of this concept before his death in 2014.

His son Mauricio, the current president, said: “We expect to have the future stars coming out of this tournament. His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, was very clear when he learned about my father’s dream of the World Cup of Boxing. When I explained to him what the intentions were 11 years ago when my father entered the hospital and could not proceed with the World Cup.”

Sulaiman also revealed a number of unique rules and innovations which will be in play across the event which starts in April before further rounds in August and October before the grand final in December.

Firstly, to ensure that one boxer proceeds from each bout, there will be no draws possible.

Sulaiman explained: “If the scorecards reflect a draw we are going to proceed to the WBC enhanced scoring system which has been developed for many years with the support of Duane Ford and his WBC ring officials committee. Where the judge scores the round numerically and also give a report on each round whether it was close, moderate, decisive or extremely decisive. These have a numerical value that will be reflected in the enhanced scoring system.

“If after that there is still a draw, a panel of three supervisors will decide who is the winner to advance to the following stage.”

Meanwhile, the judges will be elevated on high chairs in a bid to give them a better view of the action and their scoring will also be open after the second and fourth rounds of the fight. Sulaiman explained “Why? Because this gives the opportunity for the corner to adjust their strategy, to adjust the performance and also it gives great transparency to our sport.”

Sulaiman also revealed that instant replay will be available for moments of contention. He said: “This will be available for any major situation and will be reviewed in case there’s a controversy to make sure justice prevails.”

Finally, there will also be a buzzer 30 seconds from the end of every round, which has been designed to ensure that both fighters ‘pick up the action’ for the remainder of the round. They will also be wearing 12oz Reyes ‘King’ gloves, which have been specially developed for the competition.

At the first event, each boxer will book their place in the last-16 stage with a victory but Sulaiman also explained that losing fighters may get the chance to come back if there are drop-outs later in the tournament. “On every card we will have substitutes,” he said. “This is in case of fighters not making weight, or getting injury or any other problem.”

All of this, he hopes, will ensure a smooth competition which will ultimately crown the first four Jose Sulaiman Trophy winners at the grand finale in December.

“It is very complex and it has taken a great amount of work, organization, dedication,” he said. “The production of the gloves and the uniforms and everything for this to be ready.

“This is going to be a history making event taking place in Saudi Arabia.”