Undefeated cruiserweight world champions Murat Gassiev vs. Yunier Dorticos Semifinals
*EDMONTON, Canada (January 31, 2018**)* – The ultra-entertaining World
Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round concludes this Saturday, when
undefeated world champions *Murat “Iron” Gassiev* (25-0, 18 KOs) and *Yunier
“The KO Doctor” Dorticos* (21-0, 20 KOs) throw-down in a unification fight,
at Bolshov Ice Dome in Adler, Russia.
Like all WBSS action, the Gassiev-Dorticos card will air live in Canada,
starting at 2 p.m. ET, exclusively on Super Channel.
The Gassiev-Dorticos winner will advance this May to the WBSS championship
final in Saudi Arabia, to fight WBO/WBC world champion *Oleksandr “The Cat”
Usyk* (14-0, 11 KOs), winner of this past Saturday’s WBSS semifinals match
against *Mairis Briedis* (23-1, 18 KOs). The WBSS’ *Muhammad Ali Trophy* winner
will become the first world cruiserweight champion to hold all four major
championship belts at the same time.
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.
The 23-year-old Gassiev captured his International Boxing Federation (IBF)
crown a year ago with a 12-round split decision victory over three-time
world cruiserweight champion *Denis Lebedev* (29-1). In the WBSS
quarterfinals, Gassiev knocked out two-time world cruiserweight
champion *Krsysztof
Wlodarczysk* (53-3-1) in the third round of his initial world title defense.
Dorticos is a well-schooled fighter,” Gassiev noted. “”He has many amateur
fights, good speed, and fast hands. He is a great opponent and I have
prepared for 12 tough rounds.
“The World Boxing Super Series is a great tournament that gives me the
opportunity to unify all the cruiserweight titles. On Saturday, I am going
to take another step towards that dream in front of my proud countrymen.”
A Cuban defector who now lives in Miami, Florida, Dorticos stopped interim
World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight champion *Youri Kalenga* (22-2)
in the 10th round of their 2016 fight, and he was later elevated to
“regular” WBA world champion. Dorticos put *Dmitry Kudryashov* (21-1) to
sleep in the second round of their WBSS quarterfinals match.
“I’m ready to show Gassiev what a champion looks like and give him a
challenge he’s never faced before. I want to take his belt. In other words;
Gassiev is my next victim. I am preparing my body and soul for the most
important fight in my career. Because the only thing I’m going to accept is
the victory.
“I have worked hard to be able to be a part of this tournament, I have
worked hard to be able to prove that I am the best cruiserweight in the
world. I believe I am the best in the world, and I can’t wait to fight
again and show the fans all over the world once again what ‘The KO Doctor’
is about.”
*Six fights, including four championship matches on the “Gassiev vs.
Dorticos” card, which is promoted by Sauerland Event, will air exclusively
in Canada on Super Channel.*
In the co-featured event, Russian strongman *Maksim Vlosov* (41-2, 24 KOs)
takes on 2008 Nigerian Olympian *Olanreqaju Dorolola* (27-4, 25 KOs) in the
12-round WBSS Cruiserweight Substitute Fight for the vacant WBC Silver
title. Plus, former world champion *Fedor Chudinov*(16-2, 11 KOs), of
Russia, puts his WBA International super middleweight crown on the line in
a 12-round fight against unbeaten 21-year-old American challenger *Bobby
Gunn, Jr.* (9-0, 7 KOs), whose father, *Bobby Gunn*, is a bare knuckles
champion; and WBA International bantamweight titlist *Mikhail Aloyan* (3-0-0),
of Russia by way of Armenia, faces unbeaten Nicaraguan *Alexander
Espinoza* (15-0-2,
7 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Two swing bouts are also slated: *Basir
Abakarov* (3-0,
3 KOs) vs. *Denis Bakhtov* (39-12, 26 KOs) in a 10-round battle of Russian
heavyweights, and a four-round heavyweight match between Russian prospect *Tair
Kelekhsaev* (1-0, 1 KO) vs. TBA.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
