Nigeria’s rising boxing sensation, Idris Gbadamosi, has earned a spot in the inaugural Boxing World Cup, set to take place in April in Saudi Arabia.
The tournament, officially known as the WBC Riyadh Season Boxing Grand Prix, is designed to uncover and promote the next generation of boxing talent.
Gbadamosi, an undefeated featherweight with a flawless 7-0-0 record, including six knockouts, will proudly represent Nigeria in the highly anticipated event.
The competition will feature 128 fighters from 41 nations, spread across four weight divisions: featherweight, super-lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight.
Fighting out of Always Boxing Club, Gbadamosi is expected to make a strong impression in the featherweight category, where his power and technical finesse have already earned him a formidable reputation.
This prestigious event will introduce several groundbreaking innovations, such as mandatory decisive outcomes, eliminating the possibility of draws. Open scoring after rounds two, four, and six will add an extra layer of transparency, while instant replay technology will be used to ensure fair officiating.
Born and raised in Bariga, Lagos State, Gbadamosi’s journey has been remarkable.
After amassing an impressive amateur record of 74 fights with 70 wins, he moved to Dubai in 2021 with the support of Nathaniel Olajide, who discovered him through social media.
Since turning professional, he has continued to dominate, with his debut fight against Filipino Shandle Eduardo ending in a first-round knockout on October 23, 2021.
His aggressive yet calculated fighting style has seen him dispatch a string of opponents, including Uganda’s Fahad Mulindwa and Daniel Ssebunya, UAE’s Bashir Kigozi, India’s Manikandan Venugopal, and Egypt’s Mohammed Abdelghany—all falling victim to his knockout power.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Gbadamosi remains humble about his ability to stop fights early.
In a past interview with The PUNCH, he explained, “Boxing is unpredictable, you can’t just say you want to go for a knockout, it’s not that easy. The opponent is also training, knockouts happen unexpectedly. I never go for a knockout but I train very hard like six, eight hours.”
His selection for the WBC Riyadh Season Boxing Grand Prix marks a major milestone in his career, giving him an opportunity to showcase his skills on a global stage.
As he prepares to take on elite contenders, Gbadamosi’s journey continues to inspire, proving that talent, dedication, and the right opportunities can propel a boxer to the world’s biggest platforms.
