WBSS CRUISERWEIGHT FINAL
Unified World Championship
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Murat Gassiev
AIRING LIVE IN CANADA THIS AFTERNOON
EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL
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(L-R) — Oleksandr Usyk & Murat Gassiev both weighed in at 90 kilograms/198.45 pounds
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canada (July 21, 2018) – The first totally undisputed world cruiserweight champion will be crowned this afternoon, when WBC/WBO champion Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) and IBF/WBA title-holder Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) throw-down for the inaugural Muhammad Ali Trophy, starting at 2 p.m. ET, live exclusively on Super Channel in Canada.
All four-major sanctioning body world title belts, plus The Ring magazine’s, will belong to the winner of today’s World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) cruiserweight finale, airing live from Sport Complex in Moscow, in a legitimate Fight of the Year candidate.
The 31-year-old Usyk, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine, knocked out Marco Huck in the 10th round of their WBSS quarterfinal match, then he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Mairis Briedis in the semifinals.
“I am looking forward to the final,” Usayk said. “When I was in Sochi watching the semifinals fight between Gassiev and Dorticos, I met a lot of people who said they support Murat, but that they respected me.
“It does not matter which city, which country, my opponent is from and I am not worried about fighting in Moscow. For me. It’s normal to fight abroad.”
Gassiev, 24, stopped Krzysctof Wlodarczyk and Yunier Dorticos, respectively, in the third and 12th round of the quarterfinals and semifinals.
“I don’t think I have an advantage fighting in Russia,” Russian-native Gassiev commented, “because I know Usyk has many fans here, too. I respect my opponent and I don’t pay attention to where he comes from.”
Four exciting fights on the “Usyk vs. Gassiev” card, presented by Patriot Boxing Promotions, will air live in Canada exclusively on Super Channel.
TODAY’S WBSS LINE-UP ON SUPER CHANNEL
MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS – WBSS FINAL
WBO/WBC UNIFICATION CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Oleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Russia 90 kg. (198.45 lbs.)
vs.
Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBC/WBA Champion, Russia 90 kg. (198.45 lbs.)
CO-FEATURE – CRUISERWEIGHT – 10 ROUNDS
Mairis Briedis (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia 90,4 kg. (199.3 lbs.)
vs.
Brandon Deslaurier (11-1-1, 10 KOs), France 89,6 kg. (197.6 lbs.)
UNDISPUTED WOMEN’S WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP — 10 ROUNDS
Cecelia Breakus (33-0, 9 KOs), Champion, Finland 66,4 kg. (146.4 lbs.)
vs.
Inna Sagaydakovskaya (7-0, 3 KOs), Russia 66,6 kg. (147 lbs.)
WBA INTERNATIONAL SUPER CHAMPIONSHIP – 12 ROUNDS
Fedor Chudinov (17-2, 12 KOs), Champion, Russia 75,2 kg. (165.8 lbs.)
vs.
Nadjib Mohammedi (40-5, 23 KOs), France 75,6 kg. (166.8 lbs.)
(All fights and fighters are subject to change)
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.
All WBSS fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand. The postponed WBSS world super middleweight champion final hasn’t been rescheduled at this time.
In addition to all the WBSS quarterfinal and semifinals matches, Super Channel aired major boxing events live the past 1 ½ years including Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga, Crawford vs. Indongo, Smith vs. Williams II, Frampton vs. Donaire, and Fury vs Seferi.
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