Riyadh Season Grand Prix – Middleweight Predictions

In the Matchmaker’s Eye

By Vincent Morin

The second round of the WBC Grand Prix Riyadh Season kicks off this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The super lightweight (140 lb) and middleweight (160 lb) divisions will be in action on Friday, followed by the featherweight (126 lb) and heavyweight divisions on Saturday.

Each weight class will feature 16 fighters competing in six-round bouts for a spot in the next phase. Three Canadians remain in contention for the prestigious trophy, including Quebec’s Derek Pomerleau.

Pomerleau, the lone Canadian representative at 160 lb, defeated Ukrainian Liparit Ustian by unanimous decision on April 19. This Friday, he’ll square off against Irishman Paul Ryan.

Here’s a look at the middleweight predictions heading into what promises to be a spectacular second round:

Middleweights

Maksym Molodan over Dmytro Rybalko
Molodan scored a notable win over one of the tournament’s early favorites, while Rybalko was held to a draw and only advanced via tiebreaker points against an obscure Australian. Edge goes to Molodan in this all-Ukrainian clash.

Derek Pomerleau over Paul Ryan
Ryan impressed in his Grand Prix debut, outclassing a seasoned Moroccan opponent. But his exposed chin and a brutal early-career knockout—where he suffered convulsions—raise red flags against a heavy hitter like Pomerleau. The Canadian was rock-solid in his unanimous decision win over a relentless Ukrainian in phase one, and should logically continue his path forward.

Mohammad Issa over Ephrem Bariko
Both fighters performed well in their opening bouts. Bariko stunned many by upsetting an undefeated Uzbek, while Issa dominated an overmatched opponent. Issa’s speed and accuracy should neutralize Bariko’s strength and pressure.

Hajji Muhis over Carlos Sinisterra
Sinisterra is a solid boxer. In his first appearance, he easily outpointed a durable Chinese opponent. His challenge: facing a man who beat his stylistic twin in the previous round. Muhis, a late tournament entry, was knocked down by Venezuela’s Jeremy Alvarez, only to rally back and win by unanimous decision. With over 150 amateur fights under his belt, the UK-based Finn holds a clear experience advantage.

Ciril Johnson Suffo over Dylan Biggs
For me, the biggest surprise of the tournament so far has been France’s Ciril Johnson Suffo. With just 3 knockouts in 10 fights, no one expected him to hit with such authority. His tournament debut—an explosive win over Mexico’s Brandon Velazquez Ortega—was pure fireworks. Now, he’ll face a tournament favorite in Australia’s Dylan Biggs, who easily dispatched a British fighter in round one. Expect a tough, brutal clash. I’m predicting an upset: Johnson Suffo advances.

Petro Frolov over Saulo Morales Saldivar
Ukraine’s Petro Frolov, now based in Turkey, cruised to a unanimous decision win over an undefeated, yet limited Romanian opponent. Morales Saldivar delivered the tournament’s most thrilling bout so far, stopping Ghanaian Olympian Shakul Samed in the final round while trailing on the cards. Still, his defensive lapses and the short recovery time between phases should give Frolov the edge.

Jose Ramon Montes over Emiliano Aguillon Castro
This all-Mexican battle between undefeated warriors with near-identical records seems like a coin toss at first glance. Montes outclassed a British opponent, while Aguillon earned a decision win over an awkward Ukrainian. Montes appears to have faced stiffer competition and endured slightly less damage. Slight edge to Montes—but anything could happen here.

Lancelot Proton de la Chapelle over Isaac Torres
France’s Lancelot Proton de la Chapelle is one of the tournament’s clear frontrunners. He’s the most experienced and naturally comes from a heavier weight class (168 lb), enjoying notable height and reach advantages. That said, his first test in Riyadh was no walk in the park—he narrowly escaped with a split decision win over a talented Kazakh amateur. His next opponent, Venezuela’s Isaac Torres, packs serious power, as shown when he dismantled his Nigerian opponent in round one. But Torres is a natural 154-pounder. The size difference will be glaring. Expect the Frenchman to move on.