. 
(Pictures courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canada (February 3, 2018) – The cruiserweight semifinals of the popular World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) concludes today when undefeated world champions Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) and Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs) battle in their title unification bout, airing in Canada exclusively on Super Channel (2 p.m. ET start), live from Bolshov Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia.
The Gassiev-Dorticos winner will advance May to the WBSS championship final in Saudi Arabia this May to fight WBO/WBC world champion Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), winner of the other WBSS semifinals match against previously unbeaten Mairis Briedis (23-1, 18 KOs). The WBSS’ Muhammad Ali Trophy winner will become the first world cruiserweight champion to hold all four major championship belts at the same time.
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.
Gassiev, 23, captured his International Boxing Federation (IBF) crown a year ago with a 12-round split decision victory over three-time world cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-1). In the WBSS quarterfinals, Gassiev knocked out two-time world cruiserweight champion Krsysztof Wlodarczysk (53-3-1) in the third round of his first world title defense.
“I don’t feel any pressure at all,” Gassiev said. “I am looking forward to fighting in front of my family, friends and fans. The stare-down was intense, but that is normal. I see a future in the tournament after this fight. I will do my job.”
Cuba-born Dorticos knocked out interim World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight champion Youri Kalenga (22-2) in the 10th round of their 2016 fight, and Dorticos, who stopped Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1) in the second round of their WBSS quarterfinals match, was elevated to WBA Cruiserweight World Champion.
“I will end the fight before the fifth round,” Dorticos predicted. “I will kick his ass in front of his own fans. Russian fans and boxing fanatics all over the world will learn what ‘The KO Doctor’ is about!”
Six fights, including four championship matches on the “Gassiev vs. Dorticos” card, which is promoted by Sauerland Event, will air exclusively in Canada on Super Channel.
TODAY’S WBSS LINE-UP ON SUPER CHANNEL
MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS – WBSS SEMIFINALS
IBF/WBA UNIFICATION CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Murat Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs), IBF Champion, Russia 90,3 kg (199.1 lbs.)
vs.
CO-FEATURE – WBSS CRUISERWEIGHT SUBSTITUTE FIGHT – 10 ROUNDS
Maksim Vlasov (41-2, 24 KOs), Russia
vs.
Olanrewaju Durodola (27-4, 25 KOs), 2008 Olympian, Nigeria
WBC INTERNATIONAL SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP — 12 ROUNDS
Fedor Chudinov (16-2, 11 KOs), Champion, Russia
vs.
Bobby Gunn, Jr. (9-0, 7 KOs), Challenger, USA
WBA INTERNATIONAL BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 10 ROUNDS
Mikhail Aloyan (3-0), Champion, Russia
vs.
Alexander Espinoza (15-0-2, 7 KOs), Challenger, Nicaragua
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS (Swing Bout)
Basir Abakarov (3-0, 3 KOs), Russia
vs.
Denis Bakhtov (39-12, 26 KOs), Russia
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS (Swing Bout)
Tair Kelekhsaev (1-0, 1 KO), Russia
vs.
TBA
(All fights and fighters are subject to change)
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO/WBC Unification
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ukraine
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Briedis (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia
(Usyk retained his WBO title and won the WBC championship)
February 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF/WBA Unification
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs), IBF World Champion, Russia – Ring #2
vs.
Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs), WBA World Champion, Cuba – Ring #5
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
February 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA/IBO Unification
“Saint” George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs), WBA World Champion, United Kingdom – Ring #2
vs.
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 KOs), IBO World Champion, United Kingdom – Ring #4
February 24, Arena Nurnberger Versicherung, Nuremburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 KOs), Germany – Ring #10
(Former WBO & WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion)
vs.
Callum “Mundo” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), United Kingdom – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
All WBSS semifinals and championship fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
In addition to all the WBSS quarterfinal matches, 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.
English