Super Channel acquired exclusive rights in Canada to air the entire WBSS tournament from MP & Silva, ehamba phambili nabezindaba bakwamanye amazwe inkampani inikeza amalungelo abezindaba, digital, ubuchwepheshe kanye uxhaso amasevisi.
“We are thrilled that the WBSS is returning to Super Channel for exclusive Canadian coverage of the highly anticipated semifinals,” wathi 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:
UMHLABA Boxing SUPER UCHUNGECHUNGE Semifinals UHLELO
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC Wokwakha Ubunye
Oleksandr “Ikati” Usyk (13-0, 11 Kos), WBO World Champion, Ukraine – Ring #1
vs.
Mairis Deer (23-0, 18 Kos), WBC World Champion, Latvia – Ring #3
February 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF/WBA Unificatiion
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 Kos), IBF World Champion, Russia –
Ring #2
vs.
Yunier “I KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-0, 20 Kos), WBA World
Champion, Cuba – Ring #5
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
February 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO Wokwakha Ubunye
“Saint” George Groves (27-3, 20 Kos), WBA World Champion, I-United Kingdom – Ring #2
vs.
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 Kos), IBO World Champion, I-United Kingdom – Ring #4
February 24, Arena Nurnberger Umshwalense, Nuremburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 Kos), Germany – Ring #10
(Owabe WBO & WBA Khanyisa wesibhakela World Champion)
vs.
Callum “emhlabeni” Smith (23-0, 17 Kos), I-United Kingdom – Ring #3
(WBC 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 in 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 — ngesikhathi esifanayo.
The four cruiserweight semifinalists, who represent four different countries, have a combined record of 83-0 kanye 68 knockouts. They are also the top three and fifth-highest ranked cruiserweights in the world by The 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, champion sivikele Krzysztof Glowacki (26-0).
WBSS: In his third WBO title defense, he stopped former two-time WBO world champion Marco Huck (40-4-1) in the 11th round.
Inothi: 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 — in the 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.
Inothi: 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.
Inothi: 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) May 20, 2016 in the 10th round and later upgraded to “njalo” WBA iqhawe emhlabeni.
WBSS: Stopped Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1) in the second round of his first world title defense.
Inothi: 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 Groves,Chris Eubank, Jr. futhi Callum Smith – and German Juergen Braehmer. All four are ranked among The Ring magazine’s top 10.
SUPER MIDDELEWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
GEORGE Ashera: 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 in the round wesine.
Inothi: All three of his career pro losses have been to world champions Carl Froch kabili futhi Badou Jack.
World Title Fight Record: 2-3 (2 Kos)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 3-3 (1 KO), wanqoba
James DeGale, Glen Johnson & Chudinov.
CHRIS EUBANK, JR.: Crowned IBO super middleweight champ February 4, 2017, lapho akhishwe Renold Quinlan (11-1) in the 10th round, and successfully defended his title July 15, 2017 with a 12-round unanimous decision win over 3-time, 2-division iqhawe emhlabeni Arthur Abrahama (46-5).
WBSS: Defended his IBO belt with a third-round knockout of Avni Yildirim (16-0).
Inothi: 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.
*kuhlanganisa 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).
Inothi: 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 futhi Nathan ngobuqili….at 39 the oldest WBSS semifinalist.
World Title Fight Record: 9-1 (6 Kos)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-2 (0 Kos), wanqoba 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).
Inothi: 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 Demand.
In addition to the WSBB quarterfinals, Super Channel senza isibhakela izenzakalo ezinkulu ezihlala 2017 efana Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Uphondo, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga and Crawford vs. Indongo.
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