Rival bids mean Jeddah WBSS title bout may move to Russia

The new date and location of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) cruiserweight final between Murat Gassiev and Oleksandr Usyk will be determined in the next few days. (AFP)

LONDON: The new date and location of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) cruiserweight final between Murat Gassiev and Oleksandr Usyk will be determined in the next few days.
Their fight for the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles had been postponed from May 11, when it was to be held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Usyk, however, suffered a minor elbow injury, meaning the bout could still be relocated — and then replaced by a later WBSS fight in Jeddah.
Arab News understands rival bids have emerged that could take the final to Russia — where IBF and WBA champion Gassiev was born — Sydney, the US or Latvia, where Usyk’s semifinal win over Mairis Breidis proved so entertaining.
Concerns also persist surrounding the intense heat in Jeddah in July, where temperatures approaching 40 C would be almost as uncomfortable for spectators as for the two fighters.
While such a significant fight no longer being held in Jeddah would represent a disappointment locally, it is understood that a deal remains in place with WBSS organizers Comosa AG, promoter Kalle Sauerland and the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia (GSA) to stage a similar fight in the city — and it is considered “a case of when, not if.”
“The fight is on; both guys are fit now and in full training,” Sauerland told Arab News. “I’m waiting for the date and venue myself.”
Last week the promoter confirmed a bantamweight tournament would be one of three for the second season of the WBSS, which follows the so-far successful cruiserweight and super-middleweight editions of the first. Light-welterweight will be one of the remaining two, as will another from one from one of the sport’s heavier divisions.
If the bantamweight fight is taken to Jeddah, there remains the potential for it to prove as appealing as Usyk-Gassiev.
Highly rated reigning world champions Ryan Burnett, Zolani Tete and Emmanuel Rodriguez, — of Northern Ireland, South Africa and Puerto Rico, respectively — have already confirmed their participation, and Japan’s Naoya Inoue will also join them should he succeed in defeating Jamie McDonnell on May 25.