Super Channel acquired exclusive rights in Canada to air the entire WBSS tournament from MP & Silva, a na-eduga mba media ụlọ ọrụ na-enye media ikike, dijitalụ, technology na nkwado ọrụ.
“We are thrilled that the WBSS is returning to Super Channel for exclusive Canadian coverage of the highly anticipated semifinals,” kwuru 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 & Entertainment, 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, WBC, 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:
ỤWA Boxing Super usoro SEMIFINALS ịtọọ oge
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC ịdị n'otu
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (13-0, 11 Kos), WBO World Champion, Ukraine – Mgbanaka #1
vs.
Mairis Mgbada (23-0, 18 Kos), WBC World onye mmeri, Latvia – Mgbanaka #3
February 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF/WBA Unificatiion
Murat “Ígwè” Gassiev (25-0, 18 Kos), IBF World onye mmeri, Russia –
Mgbanaka #2
vs.
Yunier “The ko Doctor” Dorticós (21-0, 20 Kos), WBA World
Onye mmeri, Cuba – Mgbanaka #5
Super MIDDLEWEIGHTS
February 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / Igbo ịdị n'otu
“Saint” George Asherim (27-3, 20 Kos), WBA World onye mmeri, United Kingdom – Mgbanaka #2
vs.
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Obere. (26-1, 20 Kos), Igbo World onye mmeri, United Kingdom – Mgbanaka #4
February 24, Arena Nürnberger Insurance, Nuremburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 Kos), Germany – Mgbanaka #10
(kpụrụ WBO & WBA Light Heavyweight World onye mmeri)
vs.
Callum “ụwa” Smith (23-0, 17 Kos), United Kingdom – Mgbanaka #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight onye mmeri)
(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 na 1987. The eventual WBSS cruiserweight world champion will become the first ever to hold all four major sanctioning body titles – WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO — n'otu oge ahụ.
The four cruiserweight semifinalists, who represent four different countries, have a combined record of 83-0 na 68 knockouts. They are also the top three and fifth-highest ranked cruiserweights in the world by Mgbanaka 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, ịgbachitere onye mmeri Krzysztof Glowacki (26-0).
WBSS: In his third WBO title defense, he stopped former two-time WBO world champion Marco Huck (40-4-1) na 11nke gburugburu.
Cheta: 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 — na 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.
Cheta: 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.
Cheta: 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) Ka 20, 2016 na 10nke round and later upgraded to “mgbe nile” WBA n'ụwa onye mmeri.
WBSS: Stopped Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1) in the second round of his first world title defense.
Cheta: 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 Asherim,Chris Eubank, Obere. na Callum Smith – and German Juergen Braehmer. All four are ranked among Mgbanaka magazine’s top 10.
SUPER MIDDELEWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
George Asherim: Knocked out defending world champion Fedor Chudinov (14-1) na May 27, 2017 in the sixth round to capture the WBA super middleweight world title.
WBSS: Stopped previously undefeated Jaime Cox nke-anọ gburugburu.
Cheta: All three of his career pro losses have been to world champions Carl Froch ugboro abụọ na Badou Jack.
World Title Fight Record: 2-3 (2 Kos)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 3-3 (1 Ko), meriri
James DeGale, Glen Johnson & Chudinov.
CHRIS EUBANK, JR.: Crowned IBO super middleweight champ February 4, 2017, mgbe ọ kụrụ aka Renold Quinlan (11-1) na 10nke gburugburu, and successfully defended his title July 15, 2017 with a 12-round unanimous decision win over 3-time, 2-nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri Arthur Abraham (46-5).
WBSS: Defended his IBO belt with a third-round knockout of Avni Yildirim (16-0).
Cheta: 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.
*na-agụnye 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).
Cheta: 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 na Nathan Jiri akọ….na 39 the oldest WBSS semifinalist.
World Title Fight Record: 9-1 (6 Kos)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-2 (0 Kos), meriri 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).
Cheta: 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 On-enwe Ịnụrụ.
In addition to the WSBB quarterfinals, Super Channel aired isi ọkpọ ihe na-ebi 2017 ka Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Obere. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga and Crawford vs. Indongo.
Na-ekiri niile World Boxing Super Series edinam ndụ, nakwa dị ka ihe na-akpali akpali ọkpọ na-abịa, agha Fans na Canada nwere ike ịkpọtụrụ ha obodo cable eweta denye aha na Super Channel na ihe nile ọ na-enye, tinyere adịchaghị usoro, fim na ihe ndị ọzọ, n'ihi na dị ka ala dị ka $9.95 kwa ọnwa.
