Mairis Briedis (L) & Oleksandr Usyk(photo courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canada (Lub ib hlis ntuj 27, 2018) — Unbeaten cruiserweight world champions Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk thiab Mairis Briedis open the entertaining World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals today in Latvia, starting at 2 p.m. LI, live exclusively on Super Channel in Canada.
Super Channel acquired the exclusive rights in Canada to broadcast the World Boxing Super Series from MP & Silva, a leading international media company that provides media rights, digital, technology and sponsorship services.
Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs), the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Cruiserweight World Champion is a
two-time Ukrainian Olympian, who captured gold medals at the 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championships, twice defeating current International Boxing Federation (IBF) Light Heavyweight World Champion Artur Beterbiev, the two-time Russian Olympian now based in Montreal.
“I am going to entertain the crowd at the Arena Riga,” Usyk said. “That I can promise! I have worked on some new thing and Hnub vas xaum you will see what I’m talking about.”
Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs), the World Boxing Council (WBC) Cruiserweight World Champion, will be fighting in his hometown in front of an expected crowd of 10,000.
“My team is doing everything to take pressure off my shoulders,” Briedis commented. “We are just concentrating on the fight. My dream is to deliver a fight that can go into the Boxing Hall of Fame.”
The Usyk-Briedis world title unification winner will advance to the WBSS championship final in May to fight the winner of the other WBSS semifinals match, FEB. 3 in Russia, between IBF World Champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) and WBA World Champion Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs).
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Five exciting fights on the “Usyk vs. Briedis” daim ntawv, promoted by Sauerland Event, will air in Canada exclusively on Super Channel.
TODAY’S WBSS LINE-UP ON SUPER CHANNEL
MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS – WBSS SEMIFINALS
WBO/WBC UNIFICATION CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs), WBO Champion, Zog ntawm Guj kuj (90,4 kg (199.3 lbs.)
vs.
Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs), WBC Champion, Latvia 90,3 kg (199.1 lbs.)
CO-FEATURE – WBSS CRUISERWEIGHT SUBSTITUTE FIGHT – 12 ROUNDS
Noel Gevor (23-1, 10 KOs), Germany by way of Armenia
vs.
Olanrewaju Durodola (27-4, 25 KOs), 2008 Olympian, Nigeria
WBC INTERNATIONAL SILVER LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP — 10 ROUNDS
Yoann Kongolo (10-0, 4 KOs), Switzerland, Champion
vs.
Andrejs Pokumeiko (15-12-1, 11 KOs), Latvia
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS
Filip Hrgovic (2-0, 2 KOs), 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, Croatia
vs.
Tom Little (10-4, 3 KOs), United Kingdom
CRUISERWEIGHT – 8 ROUNDS (Swing Bout)
Nikolais Grisunins (6-0-1, 3 KOs), Latvia
vs.
Jozsef Darmos (8-1-1, 7 KOs), Hungary
(All fights and fighters are subject to change)
All WBSS semifinals and championship fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
Super Channel aired major boxing events live in 2017 like Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, ❏ Jr ❏. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga, Crawford vs. Indongo and Smith vs. Williams II.
To watch all the World Boxing Super Series action live, as well as more exciting boxing to come, fight fans in Canada can contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as low as $9.95 per month.
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Lub ib hlis ntuj 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO/WBC Unification
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs), WBO World Champion, Ukraine – Ntiv nplhaib #1
vs.
Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs), WBC World Champion, Latvia – Ntiv nplhaib #3
Lub ob hlis ntuj 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Zog ntawm Guj kuj – IBF/WBA Unificatiion
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs), IBF World Champion, Zog ntawm Guj kuj – Ntiv nplhaib #2
vs.
Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs), WBA World Champion, Cuba – Ntiv nplhaib #5
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Lub ob hlis ntuj 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA/IBO Unification
“Saint” George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs), WBA World Champion, United Kingdom – Ntiv nplhaib #2
vs.
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 KOs), IBO World Champion, United Kingdom – Ntiv nplhaib #4
Lub ob hlis ntuj 24, Arena Nurnberger Versicherung, Nuremburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 KOs), Germany – Ntiv nplhaib #10
(Former WBO & WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion)
vs.
Callum “Mundo” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), United Kingdom – Ntiv nplhaib #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
