by Tamas Pradarics
The line-up of the cruiserweight version of the World Boxing Super Series tournament looked really nice on paper but turned into a can’t miss show last Saturday with the announcement of the signing of WBO titlist Oleksandr Usyk (12-0, 10 KO’s).
The Ukrainian former Olympic champion was not expected to participate yet his team finally decided to accept the offer to be a part of the exclusive, single elimination tournament.
”We had discussions about WBSS long before it was announced. We heard it was planned but did not have enough confidence that it would really take place. So our partners from WBSS provided us with convincing arguments and then we decided to compete,” said Alexander Krassyuk, General Director of K2 Promotions Ukraine and promoter of Usyk to BoxingScene.com.
Egis Klimas, manager of Oleksandr stated last year that the goal for his fighter is to unify the cruiserweight division before moving north and join the heavyweights. With WBC champ Mairis Briedis, IBF beltholder Murat Gassiev and WBA regular titlist Yunier Dorticos were already in the mix for World Boxing Super Series, Krassyuk and K2 Promotions changed the original schedule of the Ukrainian fighter.
”Usyk was scheduled to have a voluntary defense in late August in Odessa, Ukraine. Then we had the confirmed date in November in Europe and the date in February 2018 in the US. So he looked pretty occupied for some time. But collecting all the belts among the cruiserweights is part of our strategy. So we could not miss such an attractive opportunity for the BIG SLAM unification in just 12 months.”
Despite being a reigning world champion with two successful title defenses, Usyk has only twelve fights so far in the paid ranks with only one top 10 opponent in Krzysztof Glowacki.
To win this tournament and unify belts he has to take on the toughest 200-pounders for three consecutive fights. Is he ready for this?
”Otherwise he would not give his consent for the tournament. There is only one way to become the greatest boxer in the division - it is to beat the best fighters in it. And WBSS looks like the best opportunity for that,” said the Ukrainian promoter.
The missing link in the tournament looks to be WBA champ Denis Lebedev who is scheduled to defend his title on Sunday against Mark Flanagan in Russia.
The remaining four beltholders at 200 pounds are going to unify during the series. Alexander Krassyuk seems to be as excited as any of the true followers of the sport.
”The clash of the bests will bring up the cruiserweight division to a qualitatively new level. The whole world will witness the creation of a new superstar. The winner takes it all.”