Gerome Warburton takes a significant step up in class on Saturday as he faces WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames in Riyadh.
Adames’ title will not be up for grabs this weekend as the bout takes place at a 165lb catchweight limit and Warburton is not ranked by the WBC.
Carlos Adames v Gerome Warburton Tips Preview
Carlos Adames makes his Zuffa Boxing debut on Saturday night but his WBC middleweight crown won’t be on the line.
The Dominican had been set to face interim title holder Jesus Ramos in September but Ramos was forced to pull out, and the WBC granted him permission to take a non-title fight.
Gerome Warburton cannot win the title but Adames can lose it as a defeat would see him stripped of the belt, which would then become vacant.
Saturday’s contest represents a huge step up in class for Warburton but the Welshman does come into the bout in the best form of his career.
The Bread Maker claimed an upset win over former British champion Nathan Heaney via unanimous decision back in March and then backed that up with a repeat result in September’s rematch, with Heaney ultimately calling time on his career after that bout.
However, a showdown with an experienced world champion like Adames represents a huge leap up in class for Warburton, who hasn’t campaigned anywhere close to world level previously.
The 31-year-old southpaw admits he was “taken aback” to be asked to headline Zuffa’s debut card in Saudi Arabia against Adames but believes he can compete at world level, although winning on Saturday may well be a step too far.
Caballo Bronco became interim WBC champion with a devastating third-round stoppage of Juan Macias Montiel in 2022 and was elevated to full champion two years later when Jermall Charlo was stripped of the title.
Adames’ first defence came against the 24-3-1 Terrell Gausha and was then held to a split-decision draw by Hamzah Sheeraz.
The result against Sheeraz was a controversial one as most observers felt Adames should have seen his hand raised, one judge scored the fight 118–110 in his favour, and he was last seen in March with a one-sided decision victory over Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams in a mandatory defence.
Carlos Adames v Gerome Warburton Tale of the Tape
Carlos Adames | Gerome Warburton | |
Record: | 25-1-1 | 18-2-2 |
Age: | 32 | 31 |
Birthplace: | Elias Pina, Dominican Republic | Colwyn Bay, Wales, United Kingdom |
Height: | 5’ 11” | 5' 11" |
Stance: | Orthodox | Southpaw |
Last Fight: | Won (UD) Austin Williams (March 2026) | Won (UD) Nathan Heaney (September 2026) |
KO%: | 72.00 | 11.11 |
Alias: | Caballo Bronco | Bread Maker |
Carlos Adames v Gerome Warburton Top Tips
Gerome Warburton would need to pull off a stunning upset to deny Carlos Adames a win and it is hard to see anything other than a stoppage for the WBC middleweight king.
Warburton showed his technical skill and tactical nous against Heaney but in that match-up he was facing a former British champion on the decline, whereas on Saturday in Riyadh he will be taking on a world champion at the peak of his powers.
Adames’ last three fights have gone the full distance but he should be able to record a stoppage win over Warburton.
The Dominican has been competing at world level for a number of years and 18 of his 25 wins have come inside the distance, while Warburton has one stoppage defeat on his record against Kieron Conway, who is not regarded as a heavy hitter.
Warburton should be up for the challenge but taking both men’s records and experience into account this catchweight contest appears to be a huge mismatch.
Adames needed the full 12 rounds to see off Williams in his last fight but he did score a knockdown in round two, and has either won or sent an opponent to the canvas inside the first three rounds in four of his last eight fights.
The Dominican may only need one chance to take out Warburton and he is capable of ending this clash inside the opening two rounds.
All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
