Rodriguez, Burnett, Tete All Set For Bantamweight WBSS

By Elliot Foster

Emmanuel Rodriguez picked up a world title just last weekend –– and he is already in line for multi-million-dollar paydays.

The Puerto Rican, who is undefeated in 18 contests with 12 early, outpointed Ellesmere Port's Paul Butler at the O2 Arena in London las Saturday to claim the then-vacant IBF bantamweight title.

Rodriguez dropped Butler twice in the opening round of their clash, on the undercard of Tony Bellew's sensational fifth-round return victory over David Haye, before walking away with the belt after the judges turned in comprehensive scorecards of 118-108 and 120-106 twice.

And just days after forcing his way to the top table in the bantamweight division, the 25-year-old hotshot has been handed a spot in the second season of the World Boxing Super Series.

'Manny' sat at the top table at the Savoy Hotel in London on Wednesday with Comosa AG chief boxing officer Kalle Sauerland and WBO champion Zolani Tete.

Tete, who also beat Butler by stoppage back in 2015, when the pair boxed at the ECHO Arena for the South African's IBF belt at super-flyweight, has been named as another of the participants in the tournament, which will this time include three weight divisions, alongside WBA Super king Ryan Burnett.

It is understood that the fourth seed in the bantamweight leg of the competition will be the winner of Jamie McDonnell's clash against feared Japanese Naoya Inoue.

The pair will vie for Doncaster man McDonnell's WBA 'regular' title at 118 pounds on May 25 at the Ota-City Gymnasium in Tokyo, with the winner expected to be named as the final seed.

Further details regarding the bantamweight tournament –– and the other weight divisions –– will be revealed in due course.