Skoglund invites Zlatan to be ringside for World Boxing Super Series clash
Erik Skoglund (26-0, 12 KOs) has invited countryman Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be ringside for his World Boxing Super Series quarter-final clash with Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
With World Boxing Super Series action officially underway following Oleksandr Usyk’s 10th-round stoppage of Marco Huck Saturday in Germany, cruiserweight sluggers Yunier Dorticos and Dmitry Kudryashov offered training camp updates ahead of their highly anticipated quarter-final showdown taking place Saturday, September 23 from the Alamodome in San Antonio. The WBA cruiserweight titleholder, “The KO Doctor” Dorticos has been hard at work at the Freestyle Fighting Academy in Miami as he prepares for the matchup that many are calling the best fight of the tournament.
Ukrainian Aleksandr Usyk (90,5 kg) and German Marko Huck (90,2 kg) are ready for Saturday’s premiere of the World Boxing Super Series and the quest for the Ali Trophy at the Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin.
“I feel very good,” said the WBO champion who was supported by a loud crowd of Ukrainian countrymen at today’s weigh-in at the Max-Schmeling-Halle. “I’m ready to impress the fans in Berlin and the people watching around the world,”
Aleksandr Usyk or Marco Huck? That’s the question before Saturday’s premiere of the World Boxing Super Series and the quest for the Ali Trophy at the Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin. Gassiev, Perez, Briedis, Kudryashov, Dorticos and Wlodarczyk give their predictions ahead of the hotly anticipated fight.
Yunier Dorticos:
“Usyk is an Olympic champion, and Huck is a great champion. If Huck brings the best version of himself into the ring, people win see an amazing fight. The best man on the night will win the fight.”
Dmitry Kudryashov:
Things got heated at the final press conference with WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk and Marco Huck before their Ali Trophy quarter-final on Saturday at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany. During the classic head to head photo after the press conference, Huck pushed his Ukrainian opponent who managed to stay calm.
“I wanted to show Usyk that he is my hometown and that he should be prepared for the battle of his life on Saturday,” said Huck.
After the press conference, a furious Usyk hurried out of the building saying: “I will bury him on Saturday.”
Usyk: Huck is tough and doesn’t fear anything
WBO World Champion Aleskandr Usyk on Marco Huck, tactics and Muhammad Ali ahead of the World Boxing Super Series premiere on September 9 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany.
You picked Marco Huck as your opponent in the World Boxing Super Series. How would you describe him?
Briedis and Perez face to face in Riga before September 30
WBC World Champion Mairis Briedis (22-0, 18 KOs) came face to face with Mike Perez (22-2-1, 14 KOs) in Riga before their Ali Trophy quarter-final bout at the Riga Arena, September 30.
“I feel good, I am ready to go, I am ready to fight right now,” said Mike Perez. “This is a really interesting fight and I am looking forward to it and getting the victory. Whatever the fight brings I am ready for it.”
Luke Blackledge: “Smith-Skoglund is a 50-50 fight – Skoglund is one hell of a fighter!
Luke Blackledge, the only man to face both Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KOs) and Erik Skoglund (26-0, 12 KOs) in a professional boxing ring, has labeled their super middleweight clash a 50-50 fight and believes the Swedish star could be the dark horse in the tournament.
Murray meets Torosyan on Smith-Skoglund undercard
Martin Murray (35-4-1, 16 KOs) will face Arman Torosyan (18-3-1, 15 KOs) on the undercard of the World Boxing Super Series quarter-final contest between Callum Smith and Erik Skoglund on September 16 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
Marco Huck met the German press in his hometown Berlin at the famous Restaurant Borchardt ahead of his Ali Trophy quarter-final with Ukranian Aleksandr Usyk September 9 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin.
Huck: “It is going to be very nice to fight in Berlin, but I would also fight Usyk on the moon,” said the German cruiserweight. “Usyk is a well-schooled boxer and I cannot wait to step into the ring with him.”