Carlos Adames to make Zuffa debut against Gerome Warburton in non-title bout

Carlos Adames will make his Zuffa Boxing debut against Gerome Warburton in Riyadh on 14 November, with his WBC middleweight championship excluded from the contest. BBC Sport reported on Friday that the pair will headline the promotion's first event in Saudi Arabia at a catchweight of 165 pounds.

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The booking gives Warburton a meeting with the reigning champion, but not the world-title opportunity he has previously sought. The Welsh boxer, from Colwyn Bay, brings an 18-2-2 professional record into the bout. According to BBC Sport, he retained his WBA continental title by beating Nathan Heaney on points in September, in what was Heaney's retirement fight.

The opponent announcement follows Zuffa's confirmation on 13 October that Adames had signed a multi-fight promotional agreement. In that announcement, published by UFC, the company identified the Dominican fighter as The Ring's top-ranked middleweight. It listed his record at 25 wins, one defeat and one draw, with 18 of those victories coming by knockout.

Zuffa also outlined the experience Adames brings to the new contract. The 32-year-old has been a professional for 11 years and was unbeaten in seven bouts since moving to middleweight in 2021. His three WBC championship defences included a draw with Hamzah Sheeraz in 2025 and a points victory over Austin Williams in March. Before becoming world champion, he stopped former unified super-welterweight champion Julian Williams in the ninth round.

Adames initially won the interim WBC belt by stopping Juan Macias Montiel in the third round in October 2022, according to FIGHTMAG's account of his title history. He became full champion in May 2024 after Jermall Charlo was stripped of the championship. The November contest is a non-title appearance rather than another defence of that belt.

BBC Sport also reported that Australian boxer Jason Moloney will make his own Zuffa debut on the Riyadh card. Moloney is scheduled to face Mexico's Andres Teran in a 10-round bantamweight co-main event, giving the Saudi show a second confirmed bout involving a fighter entering the promotion.