- WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) faces Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton (18-2-2, 2 KOs) at a 165lb catchweight in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 13 at The Venue in Riyadh on Saturday 14 November
- It is live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and reports say the WBC has agreed that Adames would lose his belt if he is beaten
- My view: Warburton has earned his big night, but Adames is levels above and wins by stoppage in the second half
Adames vs Warburton: The Details
Right then, Zuffa Boxing heads to Saudi Arabia on Saturday night and a Welshman is top of the bill. WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames makes his Zuffa debut against Colwyn Bay's Gerome Warburton at The Venue in Riyadh. Adames vs Warburton is live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
It is at a 165lb catchweight, so this is not a title defence in the traditional sense. But reports say the WBC has signed off on the non-title fight on the condition that the belt becomes vacant if Adames loses. So make no mistake, Adames vs Warburton carries real risk for the champion.
How Adames And Warburton Got Here
Adames vs Warburton: The Champion
Adames is 25-1-1 with 18 knockouts. The 32-year-old Dominican, who is based in Las Vegas, won the interim title with a third-round knockout in 2022 and was elevated to full champion in 2024. His last outing was a unanimous decision over Austin Williams in March. He signed with Zuffa last month, and this is his first chance to impress his new bosses.
Adames vs Warburton: The Challenger
Warburton is 31, a southpaw and a former Welsh middleweight champion who has challenged for British and Commonwealth honours. His 2026 has been brilliant. He beat former British champion Nathan Heaney twice, including their rematch in September, and he arrives on a run of three straight wins. Fair play to him, that is how you earn a night like Adames vs Warburton.
Adames vs Warburton Prediction
Let's not beat around the bush. Warburton has two knockouts in 22 fights. He is durable, he is awkward and he is a southpaw, which will make the first few rounds untidy. But he does not carry the power to keep Adames honest, and that is a huge problem against a champion who loves to stalk and let his hands go.
My prediction for Adames vs Warburton is Adames by stoppage between rounds seven and ten. Warburton's heart will keep him in there longer than people expect, but the accumulation will tell. If you know, you know: Adames to the body is a frightening thing to deal with for twelve rounds.
What Adames vs Warburton Means
Win well, and Adames has a platform in Zuffa to chase the bigger names at 160lbs. Lose, and the WBC title goes with it. That is why I expect a focused, nasty performance from the champion.