Super Channel acquired exclusive rights in Canada to air the entire WBSS tournament from MP & Silva, he kamupene ārahi pāpāho ao e whakarato tika pāpāho, mamati, ratonga hangarau me te tautoko.
“We are thrilled that the WBSS is returning to Super Channel for exclusive Canadian coverage of the highly anticipated semifinals,” mea 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:
AO BOXING Super Tuhinga whiringa whaiti Apiti
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC whakakotahitanga
Oleksandr “Ko te Cat” Usyk (13-0, 11 Koó), WBO World Champion, Ukraine – Ring #1
vs.
Mairis Deer (23-0, 18 Koó), WBC World Champion, Latvia – Ring #3
February 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF/WBA Unificatiion
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 Koó), IBF World Champion, Russia –
Ring #2
vs.
Yunier “Te KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-0, 20 Koó), WBA World
Champion, Cuba – Ring #5
Super MIDDLEWEIGHTS
February 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO whakakotahitanga
“Saint” George Groves (27-3, 20 Koó), WBA World Champion, United Kingdom – Ring #2
vs.
Chris “Gen Panuku” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 Koó), IBO World Champion, United Kingdom – Ring #4
February 24, Arena Nürnberger Insurance, Nuremburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 Koó), Germany – Ring #10
(mua WBO & WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion)
vs.
Callum “ao” Smith (23-0, 17 Koó), United Kingdom – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super whitu 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 i roto i te 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 — i te wa ano.
The four cruiserweight semifinalists, who represent four different countries, have a combined record of 83-0 ki 68 knockouts. They are also the top three and fifth-highest ranked cruiserweights in the world by Ko te Ring 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, toa ka tiakina Krzysztof Glowacki (26-0).
WBSS: In his third WBO title defense, he stopped former two-time WBO world champion Marco Huck (40-4-1) i roto i te 11th tawhio.
Note: 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 — i roto i te 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championships.
World Title Fight Record: 4-0 (2 Koó)
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.
Note: Former professional kickboxer…..also the reigning IBA world cruiserweight champion.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (0 Koó)
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.
Note: 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) Kia 20, 2016 i roto i te 10th round and later upgraded to “te wā” toa WBA ao.
WBSS: Stopped Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1) in the second round of his first world title defense.
Note: 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 Koó)*
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 Groves,Chris Eubank, JR. a Callum Smith – and German Juergen Braehmer. All four are ranked among Ko te Ring magazine’s top 10.
SUPER MIDDELEWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
GEORGE Aherimi: Knocked out defending world champion Fedor Chudinov (14-1) i te 27, 2017 in the sixth round to capture the WBA super middleweight world title.
WBSS: Stopped previously undefeated Jaime Cox i roto i te wha o tawhio noa.
Note: All three of his career pro losses have been to world champions Carl Froch rua me te Badou Jack.
World Title Fight Record: 2-3 (2 Koó)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 3-3 (1 KO), patua
James DeGale, Glen Johnson & Chudinov.
CHRIS EUBANK, JR.: Crowned IBO super middleweight champ February 4, 2017, , no te patototanga i ia Renold Quinlan (11-1) i roto i te 10th tawhio, and successfully defended his title July 15, 2017 with a 12-round unanimous decision win over 3-time, 2-toa wehenga ao Arthur Aperahama (46-5).
WBSS: Defended his IBO belt with a third-round knockout of Avni Yildirim (16-0).
Note: The son of 2-time, 2-division world champion Chris Eubank, who manages his son’s career.
World Title Fight Record: 3-0 (2 Koó)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 1-0 (0 Koó), defeated Abraham.
*ngā 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).
Note: Hadn’t fought as a super middleweight in 10-years prior to the WBSS quarterfinals…30-1 (24 Koó) as a super middleweight and he avenged his lone loss…. two other career losses were to world champions Hugo Hernan Garay a Natana i totoa e….i 39 the oldest WBSS semifinalist.
World Title Fight Record: 9-1 (6 Koó)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-2 (0 Koó), patua 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).
Note: Has three brothers who are also pro boxers: Paora, 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 I Tonoa.
In addition to the WSBB quarterfinals, Whakapāho Super Channel ora ngā mekemeke nui i roto i 2017 rite Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, JR. vs. Aperahama, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga and Crawford vs. Indongo.
Hei mataara te mahi katoa World Mekemeke Super Series ora, me te ki te mekemeke atu whakaongaonga mai, whawhai pā i roto i Canada e taea te whakapā atu ratou kaiwhakarato taura rohe ki te ohauru ki Super Channel me katoa e te reira e horo'a nei, tae atu raupapa moni, kiriata, me te nui atu, hoki rite iti rite $9.95 ia marama.
