Canadian cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his fighting idol, Jack Dempsey. 

Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), challenges WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and he always looked up to former heavyweight king Dempsey, who was an iconic sporting hero in the 1920s. 

Jack is now 28-3-3 (17 KOs), and Rozicki praised boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh for his title opportunity, which comes on the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-William Scull bill. 

“My style of fighting hasn’t been seen in Saudi Arabia,” Rozicki said. “I’m going to knock him [Jack] out and end his boxing career. It’s that simple. These other fighters have been ducking and dodging me for long enough; I’m putting the whole division on blast, after I’m finished with Jack, I want Jai (Opetaia – IBF and Ring magazine) and [Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ – WBA and WBO champion] next. 

Rozicki’s, promoter Daniel Otter, added: “We would like to thank his excellency Turki Alalsheikh, David Ghansa from 258 Management, and WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman for making this fight possible. Ryan is fighting on the biggest stage possible, and he is more than ready. Come May 3 there will be a new WBC world cruiserweight champion. The world is going to witness the hardest puncher in boxing today. Rozicki is going to walk right through Jack and get him out of there early, mark my words.”  

The 30-year-old Canadian puncher has been the WBC’s mandatory challenger since 2023, first for then champion Noel Mikaelyan, who has experienced contractual issues, and now with Jack, who was reinstated to full champion rom champion in recess status in December.