The full eight-man field for the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament has been completed with the announcement of its last two competitors.
It was announced that WBA “super” bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett, who previously agreed to compete in the tournament, and Mikhail Aloyan will participate in the second season of the World Boxing Super Series.
With the two fighters announced, that fills the last two remaining spots, meaning the full field is set. Below are the following contestants for the WBSS bantamweight tournament:
- WBA "super" champion Ryan Burnett
- WBO champion Zolani Tete
- WBA "regular" champion Naoya Inoue
- IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez
- Nonito Donaire
- Jason Moloney
- Juan Carlos Payano
- Mikhail Aloyan
The only matchup that is confirmed to take place in the quarterfinals is Rodriguez vs. Moloney due to Moloney being Rodriguez’s mandatory challenger. As far as the rest of the tournament’s quarterfinal matches, the World Boxing Super Series draft gala will take place on July 22, one day after the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament finals.
The cruiserweight finals, which will mark the end of the first-ever WBSS tournament, will pit Oleksandr Usyk vs. Murat Gassiev for the undisputed, unified WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight titles, meaning the winner will be the first-ever cruiserweight to hold all five titles at the same time.
The second season of the World Boxing Super Series will also feature a junior welterweight tournament, who will also have their draft gala on July 22, and a third weight class that is yet to be announced.
