Carlos Adames Zuffa Debut Against Warburton Draws Fan Backlash

WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames will make his Zuffa Boxing debut against Gerome Warburton on November 14 in Riyadh, per Dan Rafael. The bout headlines the card but will be contested above the 160-pound middleweight limit, meaning Adames' WBC title will not be on the line.

The matchup has drawn immediate criticism from boxing fans, per Boxing News 24. Warburton, a 31-year-old Welshman, carries an 18-2-2 record with just two knockouts. He was stopped in four rounds by Kieron Conway in May 2025, a loss at the British and Commonwealth level that undercuts his credentials as a headliner opposite a world champion.

Warburton has won three straight since that loss, including two victories over Nathan Heaney in March and September of this year. But fans argue that run does not make him a legitimate test for a reigning champion on a major platform.

The WBC had previously ordered Adames to face mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov, who has been waiting nearly three years for his shot. It remains unclear whether the Warburton bout delays or replaces that mandatory obligation.

Zuffa Boxing continues to build its roster, with Adames joining as one of the more established titleholders to compete under the promotion. The November 14 date in Riyadh puts the card on the same night as UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden, setting up a split-screen combat sports evening.