Derek Pomerleau Wins His First Fight in the WBC Grand Prix

By William Dumoulin
Photo credit: Bernard Brault – GYM

This Saturday, live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Quebec’s Derek Pomerleau (12-0, 9 KOs) kicked off his run in the WBC Middleweight Grand Prix. Thirty-two rising contenders in the division are competing in the tournament, with the winner earning a spot in the WBC’s top 15 rankings.

Standing across from him was Ukraine’s Liparit Ustian (11-1, 10 KOs), who came into the fight undefeated in his 11 bouts held on home soil.

From the opening round, the dynamic of the fight became clear: Pomerleau chose a counter-punching approach, looking to land his dangerous rear-hand uppercut, while Ustian pressed forward aggressively but struggled to connect cleanly.

As the rounds progressed, Pomerleau picked up the pace, landing sharp left hands and firing hooks from both sides. Ustian, sticking to his game plan, showed impressive durability, absorbing heavy shots without flinching.

The sixth and final round ended with a bang, as Ustian landed a solid left hook in the closing seconds that visibly rocked Pomerleau.

Still, the Canadian walked away with a clear victory, earning a unanimous decision from the judges (60–54 x2, 59–55).

The second phase of the tournament is scheduled for June, once again in Saudi Arabia. While Pomerleau is among the early favorites, it remains to be seen whether his more passive, counter-focused style will carry him all the way to the title.