The World Boxing Super Series tournament is what’s in in boxing. At least, it will be. After attending the event this last weekend, I’m convinced it will put boxing on track again.
This past weekend, I attended World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) featuring Regis Prograis taking on Kiryl Relikh in Lafayette, Louisiana. The card bolstered two semifinal matches for the promotion with world titles on the line in both the main and co-main event.
From the very beginning, you could tell that this fight card was different from your traditional boxing card. It wasn’t based in business or politics. It was put together by matchmaking.
Some boxing fans believe that the sport has been overtaken by agents. They long to see fights like Joshua-Wilder and Spence-Crawford. Instead we very lackluster fights like Joshua-Ruiz.
Enter World Boxing Super Series
One thing I noticed in the press conference was the insistence on the best fighting the best. In the tournament, it doesn’t matter who the promoter wants to fight. It’s not up to who accepts the deal. Regis Prograis and Nonito Donaire fight the winner of the next fight in the bracket. Period. WBSS has strict guidelines for who enters the tournament as well. All WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF champions are allowed to participate in the tournament as well as top-15 ranked fighters in each of the aforementioned sanctioning bodies.
Fighting the best fighters helps improve the fighters’ skills as well. Facing the best opponents has done wonders for Regis Prograis both in skill and with fans favor.
Last year, cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk went on to unify all four belts in the finals of the WBSS, the first to ever do it. Similarly, Callum Smith has received a boost in popularity as well.
WBSS is on a mission to change a stubborn sport. With tournaments, great matchmaking and top notch fighters, the World Boxing Super Series has much to excite fans. Some of us are already looking forward to next year.
