WBSS Unified World Championship Oleksandr Usyk vs. Murat Gassiev
*EDMONTON, Canada (July 17, 2018**)* – Canadian boxing fans will be able
to watch the much-anticipated World Boxing Super Series (WBSS)
cruiserweight championship finale this Saturday afternoon, as they have
throughout the wildly entertaining semifinals and quarterfinals rounds,
exclusively on Super Channel.
All four-major sanctioning body world title belts, plus *The Ring* magazine’s
strap, will be on the line at the Olympic Sport Complex in Moscow, when
WBC/WBO champion *Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk* (14-0, 11 KOs) and IBF/WBA
title-holder *Murat Gassiev* (26-0, 19 KOs) square off for the inaugural
Muhammad Ali Trophy, in addition to determining the first totally unified
cruiserweight champion in the world in what is a legitimate Fight of the
Year candidate.
The 31-year-old Usyk, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine,
stopped *Marco
Huck* in the 10th round of their WBSS quarterfinal match, and he won a
12-round unanimous decision over *Mairis Briedis* in the semifinals.
Russia-native Gassiev, 24, knocked out *Krzysctof Wlodarczyk* and *Yunier
Dorticos*, respectively, in the third and 12th round of the quarterfinals
and semifinals.
“He (Gassiev) is a strong guy,” Usyk said, “And now, thank God, Murat and I
will fight for the Muhammad Ali Trophy and the absolute world champion’
title.
“I feel excellent about (fighting in Russia) it. I am an athlete, a
warrior. I do not care where I fight, I just want to fight. I know there
will be support coming in from Ukraine which is great.
“
I am ready, my team is ready. When the strong guys meet, the fights are
interesting! This is what is so great about this tournament. It is
necessary for the sport. I have said it before and I will say it again: the
fans should expect a beautiful final.
“The training camp before the final has been the same as before my other
fights,” Gassiev commented. “My opponent is a southpaw, so I have had
different sparring partners and you have to do things a bit different
tactically against a southpaw. But, besides that nothing has changed.
“I have been doing the same amount of running, physical exercising and
sparring. I am not thinking about what he is doing. I need to be Murat
Gassiev and do my best… I am only thinking about myself, my skills and my
condition. That’s it.
“I would fight anywhere in the world, but it is a plus for my mother and
brother that they easily can watch the fight live. I am sure the final will
be a very interesting and good fight for fans all over the world. May the
best man win!”
*Four potentially explosive fights are on the “Usyk vs. Gassiev” card,
presented by Patriot Boxing Promotions, airing exclusively in Canada on
Super Channel.*
In the 10-round co-feature, former world champion Briedis faces *Brandon
Deslaurier* (11-1-1, 10 KOs). The undisputed pound-4-pound Queen of Boxing,
undefeated Colombian *Cecelia “First Lady” Braekhus* (33-0, 9 KOs), who
fights out of Finland, defends her unified world welterweight titles versus
Russian challenger *Inna “Ice Queen” Sagaydakovskaya* (7-0, 3 KOs) in a
10-round match. WBA International super middleweight champion *Fedor
Chudinov*(17-2, 12 KOs) defends at home against *Nadjib “Iron Djib”
Mohammedi* (40-5, 23 KOs), of France, in a 12-round bout,
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.
To watch the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight championship final
live, as well as more exciting boxing to come in 2018, fight fans in Canada
may contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and
all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as
low as $9.95 per month.
