The World Boxing Super Series is facing potential trouble and risking cancelation according to a report.
Mike Coppinger reports that there are financial issues behind the scenes with Comosa AG, the group that is financing the tournament. The issues are that some investors have funded more than their promised share while others have yet to provide what they owe.
The report also states that several fighters who competed in the quarterfinals, which took concluded in early November, are still waiting for their bonuses to be paid out. The World Boxing Super Series contract requires participants to submit invoices for purses. According to the contract, fighters are supposed to receive their pay within five business days of when they submitted their invoices.
The second season of the World Boxing Super Series features three tournaments across three weight classes: bantamweight, junior welterweight and cruiserweight. Below are the six semifinal bouts that have yet to be contested. No date or venue for those fights have yet to be announced:
- Bantamweight semifinals: Naoya Inoue vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez: WBA "Regular" and IBF title unification
- Bantamweight semifinals: Nonito Donaire vs. Zolani Tete: WBA "Super" and WBO title unification
- Junior welterweight semifinals: Josh Taylor vs. Ivan Baranchyk: IBF title
- ????Junior welterweight semifinals: Regis Prograis vs. Kiryl Relikh: WBA title
- Cruiserweight semifinals: Mairis Briedis vs. Krzysztof Glowacki: Interim WBO title
- Cruiserweight semifinals: Yunier Dorticos vs. Andrew Tabiti
The first season of the WBSS saw Oleksandr Usyk win the cruiserweight tournament and become the undisputed champion. Callum Smith also won the first-ever super middleweight tournament to win the WBA "super" super middleweight title.