Super Channel acquired exclusive rights in Canada to air the entire WBSS tournament from MP & Silva, ib tug uas thoob ntiaj teb xov xwm tuam txhab uas muab xov xwm txoj cai, digital, technology thiab cov kev pab cuam sponsorship.
“We are thrilled that the WBSS is returning to Super Channel for exclusive Canadian coverage of the highly anticipated semifinals,” hais tias Troy Wassill, Director of Programming, Domestic Distributors and Sports. “I have no doubt that every single bout is going to deliver exciting, must-see action for boxing fans, as these world-class fighters compete to see who is going to go head-to-head for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.”
WBSSis a revolutionary bracket-style elimination tournament featuring the world’s best boxers and a total of $50 million in prize money. The knockout format of the competition will see the best boxers ultimately compete for the Muhammad Ali Trophy, the greatest prize in boxing. The tournament is organized by newly-founded Comosa AG, a Swiss-registered company with principal owners Highlight Event & Lom ze, Modern Times Group and Team Sauerland. Comosa AG is working in partnership with boxers, promoters and managers around the world, and in alignment with the four major world boxing federations, to create a new global platform for the sport.
The first of its kind tournament, which is planned to take place on an annual basis, kicked off this past September with quarterfinals competition in two divisions, cruiserweight and super middleweight. An expert panel invited the world’s best boxers to compete, namely the top 15-ranked fighters of the four major federations: WBA, Qhov, IBF and WBO. The winners of the two semifinals will advance to the championship round in both divisions this May.
Below find the WBSS semifinals schedule and a preview of the four matches and eight fighters who survived the quarterfinals:
NTIAJ TEB BOXING SUPER SERIES semifinals SIJ HAWM
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Lub ib hlis ntuj 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC Unification
Oleksandr “Cov miv” Usyk (13-0, 11 Kos), WBO World Champion, Ukraine – Nplhaib #1
vs.
Mairis Mos lwj (23-0, 18 Kos), WBC ntiaj teb tau zus ib, Latvia – Nplhaib #3
Lub ob hlis ntuj 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF/WBA Unificatiion
Murat “Hlau” Gassiev (25-0, 18 Kos), IBF ntiaj teb tau zus ib, Russia –
Nplhaib #2
vs.
Yunier “Lub KO tus kws kho mob” Dorticós (21-0, 20 Kos), WBA World
Yeej, Teb chaws Cuba – Nplhaib #5
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Lub ob hlis ntuj 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO Unification
“Saint” George Nyuaj (27-3, 20 Kos), WBA ntiaj teb tau zus ib, United Kingdom – Nplhaib #2
vs.
Chris “Tom ntej no Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 Kos), IBO ntiaj teb tau zus ib, United Kingdom – Nplhaib #4
Lub ob hlis ntuj 24, Arena Nurnberger Insurance, Nuremburg, Lub teb chaws yelemees
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 Kos), Lub teb chaws yelemees – Nplhaib #10
(Yav tas los WBO & WBA teeb Heavyweight ntiaj teb tau zus)
vs.
Callum “ntiaj teb no” Smith (23-0, 17 Kos), United Kingdom – Nplhaib #3
(WBC Pob Zeb Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
(picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)The two winners in the cruiserweight semifinals will become the first unified world cruiserweight champion since Evander Holyfield nyob rau hauv 1987. The eventual WBSS cruiserweight world champion will become the first ever to hold all four major sanctioning body titles – Qhov, WBA, IBF and WBO — nyob rau tib lub sij hawm.
The four cruiserweight semifinalists, who represent four different countries, have a combined record of 83-0 nrog 68 knockouts. They are also the top three and fifth-highest ranked cruiserweights in the world by Lub nplhaib magazine’s independent ratings.
CRUISERWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
OLEKSANDR USYK: Captured the WBO cruiserweight world title January 17, 2016, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision over undefeated, tiv thaiv yeej Krzysztof Glowacki (26-0).
WBSS: In his third WBO title defense, he stopped former two-time WBO world champion Marco Huck (40-4-1) nyob rau hauv lub 11th puag ncig.
Ntawv: 2-time Ukraine Olympian…. 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championship gold medalist….twice defeated current IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev – Russia-native now fighting out of Montreal — nyob rau hauv lub 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championships.
World Title Fight Record: 4-0 (2 Kos)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-0 (1), defeated Glowacki and Huck
MAIRIS BRIEDIS: He became WBC world cruiserweight champion April 1, 2017, taking a 12-round unanimous decision from Huck.
WBSS: Won a 12-round unanimous decision from Mike Perez (22-2-1) in his first title defense.
Ntawv: Former professional kickboxer…..also the reigning IBA world cruiserweight champion.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (0 Kos)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-0 (1 KO), defeated Huck & Manuel Charr
MURAT GASSIEV: Won a 12-round split decision December 3, 2016 against three-time world cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-1) to capture the IBF title.
WBSS: Knocked out former 2-time world cruiserweight champion Krsysztof Wlodarczysk (53-3-1) in the third round of his first title defense.
Ntawv: Now lives in Big Bear, California, which is known for its rugged training center in the mountains.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (1 KO)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-0 (1 KO), defeated Lebedev & Wlodarczysk
Yunis Dorticós: Knocked out interim WBA cruiserweight Yuri Kalenga (22-2) Tej zaum 20, 2016 nyob rau hauv lub 10th round and later upgraded to “kev” WBA ntiaj teb no yeej.
WBSS: Stopped Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1) in the second round of his first world title defense.
Ntawv: Defected to the USA from Cuba, where he was a member of the famed Cuban National Team, and he lives and trains in Miami, Florida.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (2 Kos)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 1-0 (1 KO)*, defeated Kalenga
*includes interim WBA title fight
The super middleweight semifinal round is like a Battle of Britain with three Brits – George Nyuaj,Chris Eubank, Jr. thiab Callum Smith – and German Juergen Braehmer. All four are ranked among Lub nplhaib magazine’s top 10.
SUPER MIDDELEWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
George Nyuaj: Knocked out defending world champion Fedor Chudinov (14-1) on May 27, 2017 in the sixth round to capture the WBA super middleweight world title.
WBSS: Stopped previously undefeated Jaime Cox nyob rau hauv lub plaub puag ncig.
Ntawv: All three of his career pro losses have been to world champions Carl Froch ob zaug thiab Badou Jack.
World Title Fight Record: 2-3 (2 Kos)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 3-3 (1 KO), yeej
James DeGale, Glen Johnson & Chudinov.
CHRIS EUBANK, JR.: Crowned IBO super middleweight champ February 4, 2017, thaum nws khob qhov rooj tawm Renold Quinlan (11-1) nyob rau hauv lub 10th puag ncig, and successfully defended his title July 15, 2017 with a 12-round unanimous decision win over 3-time, 2-division ntiaj teb no yeej Arthur Abraham (46-5).
WBSS: Defended his IBO belt with a third-round knockout of Avni Yildirim (16-0).
Ntawv: The son of 2-time, 2-division world champion Chris Eubank, who manages his son’s career.
World Title Fight Record: 3-0 (2 Kos)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 1-0 (0 Kos), defeated Abraham.
*muaj xws li 3 IBO world title fights
JUERGEN BRAEHMER: Former WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion of the world who dropped down one weight class for the WBSS tournament.
WBSS: Won a 12-round unanimous decision from previously unbeaten American Rob Brant(22-0).
Ntawv: Hadn’t fought as a super middleweight in 10-years prior to the WBSS quarterfinals…30-1 (24 Kos) as a super middleweight and he avenged his lone loss…. two other career losses were to world champions Hugo Hernan Garay thiab Nathan cleverly….ntawm 39 the oldest WBSS semifinalist.
World Title Fight Record: 9-1 (6 Kos)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-2 (0 Kos), yeej Javier Velasquez &Enzo Maccarinelli
CALLUM SMITH: The least tested WBSS semifinalist in terms of having faced quality opponents, in addition to being the youngest WBSS semifinalist at the age of 27.
WBSS: Took a 12-round unanimous decision from previously undefeated Erik Sjoglund (26-0).
Ntawv: Has three brothers who are also pro boxers: Paul, Stephen and Liam….the holder of numerous regional titles including WBC International, Silver and Diamond, as well as European super middleweight champion.
World Title Fight Record: 0-0
Record vs. current or former world champions: 0-0
All WBSS fights will also be available on Super Channel Nyob Demand.
In addition to the WSBB quarterfinals, Super Channel aired loj boxing txheej xwm nyob rau hauv 2017 zoo li Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga and Crawford vs. Indongo.
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