Rules of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix

With the arrival of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix, the World Boxing Council has implemented a series of rules and innovations designed to modernize the sport, raise the excitement of every bout, and ensure greater competitive fairness. 

This format, created for high-level events, blends technology, transparency, and clarity in a system that places both the fighter and the fan at the center of the experience.

Open Scoring after the Second and Fourth Rounds.

 The judges’ official scorecards are delivered to both corners and announced publicly after the second and fourth rounds. This allows fighters to adjust their strategy in real time while giving the audience a clearer view of how the contest is unfolding.

30-Second Warning at the End of Each Round.

 The half-minute signal encourages increased activity in the closing moments of each round. Knowing the clock is running out, fighters usually raise their intensity, throw combinations, and look to finish strong to influence the scoring.

No Draws.

 If a fight ends in a draw, a tiebreak system is applied to guarantee a winner in every bout. The Enhanced Scoring Program (ESP) is used first. If the result remains tied, a panel of WBC commissioners determines the winner. This ensures a definitive outcome in each fight and a clear progression through the tournament.

Enhanced Scoring Program (ESP).

 This system adds a qualitative assessment to each round—close, moderate, decisive, or extremely decisive—alongside the traditional 10-point must system. It offers a more accurate reading of the superiority displayed in each round.

 Instant Replay. Supervisors may review controversial actions in real time, such as questionable knockdowns, cuts, illegal blows, or headbutts. Instant replay strengthens transparency and reduces the margin of error, protecting both the integrity of the result and the safety of the fighter.

 WBC Kings Gloves. The WBC designed a larger 12-ounce glove specifically for heavyweights, better suited for their bigger hands and safer than the traditional 10-ounce gloves. This improvement is tailored to the sport’s premier division.

 Each of these measures reflects a clear philosophy: protect the fighter, offer clarity to the fans, and strengthen the credibility of the sport.

As boxing enters a new era, the WBC reaffirms its global leadership by introducing a format that blends innovation, safety, and entertainment, setting the course for the sport’s future.