Carlos Adames Bio
Carlos Adames (born 7 May 1994) is a Dominican-French professional boxer who has been active since 2015. He has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title since 2024. Known for his orthodox stance and 185 cm reach, Adames has compiled a professional record of 24 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, with 18 victories coming by knockout. A native of Comendador in the Dominican Republic, he has represented his country in international competition and has steadily risen through the welterweight, light middleweight, and middleweight divisions.
Standing 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) tall, Adames combines size with an aggressive, forward-pressing style that has produced highlight-rear knockouts. His career has been defined by consistent activity, a willingness to face ranked opponents, and a willingness to campaign across multiple weight classes before settling at middleweight.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Adames was born on 7 May 1994 in Comendador, a small town in the Elías Piña province of the Dominican Republic. Growing up in a country with a strong boxing tradition, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his skills in local gyms before progressing to national-level competition. His early athletic build and natural punching power marked him as a prospect to watch from his amateur days.
Adames has dual Dominican and French nationality, reflecting family ties that connect him to Europe in addition to his Caribbean roots. This background helped him gain exposure to international competition at a young age, including the opportunity to represent the Dominican Republic on a global stage before turning professional.
Path to Professional Boxing
Before turning professional, Adames competed in the World Series of Boxing, a competition organized by the International Boxing Association that allowed national teams to face off in a hybrid amateur-professional format. Between 2014 and 2015, he represented the Dominican Republic in that league and posted a 4–2 record, gaining valuable experience against international opposition.
That exposure helped prepare him for the professional ranks, and he made his pro debut in July 2015 against Jeff Souffrant, winning by unanimous decision after four rounds. He quickly added regional titles, including the WBA Fedecaribe welterweight championship with a victory over Kelly Figueroa, and the WBA Fedelatin welterweight title by stopping Patrick Lopez in the fourth round.
Carlos Adames Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Adames began his career at welterweight and built a long knockout streak that established him as one of the most dangerous punchers in the division. He strung together ten consecutive stoppage victories, finishing opponents with body work and well-timed combinations. In July 2017, he faced his toughest test to date in veteran Carlos Molina, and Adames responded with a dominant unanimous decision (110–98, 110–98, 109–99) over eleven rounds, dropping Molina in the second round. The victory extended his development as a complete fighter and showed he could win clearly on the cards when a knockout was not available.
Light Middleweight Campaign (2017–2023)
After the Molina win, Adames moved up to light middleweight and continued his ascent. On 30 November 2019, he challenged Patrick Teixeira for the vacant WBO interim super welterweight title but came up short, losing a unanimous decision with scorecards of 111–116, 113–114, and 113–114. It was his first professional defeat and a learning experience that he would later use as motivation.
Adames rebounded with a string of wins and, on 5 December 2021, faced top middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko, ranked #4 by The Ring and #3 by the WBC. In a closely contested bout, Adames earned a majority decision victory. The result moved him into title contention and proved he could compete with elite-level opposition.
Middleweight Championship Era (2022–Present)
On 8 October 2022, Adames challenged Juan Macias Montiel for the WBC interim middleweight title at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. He delivered a statement performance, knocking out Montiel in the third round of their scheduled 12-round bout to claim the interim championship. He then made his first defense of the interim title on 24 June 2023 at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, stopping Philadelphia’s Julian Williams in the ninth round of another scheduled 12-round contest.
On 7 May 2024, just hours after reigning middleweight champion Jermall Charlo was stripped of the title, the World Boxing Council elevated Adames from interim champion to full middleweight champion. He made his first defense of the full title against Terrell Gausha on 15 June 2024 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, winning by unanimous decision. Adames then defended his title against unbeaten Hamzah Sheeraz at The Venue Riyadh Season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 22 February 2025, in a fight that ended in a split draw, with one judge scoring it 118–110 in Adames’ favor, another 115–114 for Sheeraz, and the third reading 114–114.
Notable Events and Milestones
Adames’ career has featured several signature moments, including his third-round knockout of Montiel to claim the WBC interim middleweight title, his ninth-round stoppage of Julian Williams in his first interim title defense, and his elevation to full WBC middleweight champion on his 30th birthday. Each milestone has reflected a steady climb from regional prospect to recognized world champion.
Carlos Adames Career Wins
Across his professional career, Carlos Adames has amassed 24 victories in 26 total bouts, with 18 wins coming by knockout and six by decision. His knockout ratio reflects a fighter who applies constant pressure and looks to finish opponents, while his six decision wins show that he can also box and outpoint rivals when needed. He has captured regional titles at welterweight, the WBC interim middleweight title, and the full WBC middleweight championship.
WBC Middleweight Highlights
Adames won the WBC interim middleweight title by knocking out Juan Macias Montiel in the third round in October 2022. He successfully defended that interim belt by stopping Julian Williams in the ninth round in June 2023. After his elevation to full champion in May 2024, he has continued to defend the title, including a unanimous decision win over Terrell Gausha in June 2024 and a split draw against Hamzah Sheeraz in February 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Adames captured the WBA Fedecaribe welterweight title with a win over Kelly Figueroa and added the WBA Fedelatin welterweight title by stopping Patrick Lopez in the fourth round. His dominant decision over Carlos Molina in 2017 remains one of the most complete performances of his career and signaled his arrival as a contender at the regional level.
Carlos Adames Family
Personal Life
Carlos Adames maintains ties to both the Dominican Republic and France, holding dual Dominican-French nationality. He was born and raised in Comendador, Dominican Republic, and has kept his family connections to his hometown a private part of his public life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign for Carlos Adames began with a high-profile title defense against unbeaten challenger Hamzah Sheeraz on 22 February 2025 at The Venue Riyadh Season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout ended in a split draw, with one ringside judge scoring it 118–110 in Adames’ favor, another 115–114 for Sheeraz, and the third reading 114–114, allowing Adames to retain his WBC middleweight title.
Coming off that closely contested draw, Adames is expected to remain active at the top of the middleweight division, with potential future defenses and high-profile matchups likely on the horizon. His status as WBC champion keeps him in line for the biggest fights in the 160-pound weight class.
With an 18-to-6 knockout-to-decision win ratio and a championship pedigree that now includes a full WBC title, Adames enters the remainder of 2025 as one of the most recognizable middleweights in the sport. His blend of experience, power, and international appeal makes him a central figure in the division for the foreseeable future.