Oleksandr Usyk: record, next fight and profile →
The venue for the final fight of the World Super Series of Boxing (WBSS), in the cruiserweight division, will be determined by the date of May 20th. The Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation Umar Kremlev told journalists that a final decision will be coming down within the next two weeks.
News broke on Monday that the world cruiserweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC), Olkesandr Usyk of Ukraine, was forced to withdraw from a scheduled fight with IBF, WBA world champion Murat Gassiev.
As previously reported, the world cruiserweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC), Olkesandr Usyk of Ukraine, withdrew from a scheduled fight with IBF, WBA world champion Murat Gassiev. Usyk, who suffered a minor elbow injury, was scheduled to fight Gassiev next month in Saudi Arabia.
It was announced earlier today by the World Boxing Super Series that Oleksander Usyk has a ''minor elbow injury'' that would prevent him from facing Murat Gassiev in the finals of their cruiserweight tournament which was scheduled for May 11th.
Team Usyk has informed Comosa AG that Mr Usyk suffered a minor elbow injury whilst training for his World Boxing Super Series Final against Murat Gassiev, for the Muhammad Ali Trophy. It has been confirmed by all parties, including Comosa AG appointed independent medical staff, that Mr Usyk is unavailable for the scheduled date of the event, May 11th.
Numerous rumours are circulating in the Russian press which indicate that the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final is going to undergo some change in terms of the date and venue. Initially, the final WBSS clash between the two undefeated 200lb champions, WBC/WBO Olexander Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) and Super WBA/IBF Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), is scheduled to take place in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on May 11th.
BoxingScene.com caught up with world class trainer Abel Sanchez over the weekend to get his thoughts on some of his fighters up coming fights. WBA/IBF cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (26-0) is scheduled to face Oleksandr Usyk (14-0) in the finals of the World Boxing Super Series on May 11th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has already stated that he intends to drop back to his former weight division. Bellew moved up to the heavyweight division last March and pulled off a stunning upset with an eleventh round TKO of domestic rival David Haye. They have a rematch scheduled for May 5th at the O2 Arena in London, and that will be the final fight of Bellew's run in boxing's biggest division.
After a fast start with the first-round matchups last September, the WBSS tournament continued with the semi-final bouts in 2018. The first one came in the cruiserweight series between unbeaten champions Oleksandr Usyk and Mairis Briedis on January 27 in Riga, Latvia.
By Alexey Sukachev - At the conclusion of one winter month and at the start of another - the cruiserweights delivered. This time they delivered in a double package - as part of the semi-finals of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament. As good as the first semi-final was, As good as the first semi-final wa...