The Ali Trophy semi-final bout in the cruiserweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series between IBF World Champion Murat Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) and WBA World Champion Yunier Dorticos (22-0, 21 KOs) takes place at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia on February 3, 2018.
“The consistent growth of our tournament concept keeps attracting major sports investors. Comosa is very proud to bring the Ali Trophy semi-final to Sochi,” said Comosa’s CEO, Roberto Dalmiglio.
“This fight is a very special one,” said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer:
“The level in the Ali Trophy tournament is already of the very highest, but when you have two such decorated boxers with massive KO power then the only guaranteed winner is the fans.
Two World Champions collide in Sochi, this special Olympic City. Russia hold tight for the Ali Trophy experience, the lights and stars are on their way!”
Murat ‘Iron’ Gassiev, the Russian second seed, earned his spot in the semi-final when he blew away Polish Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in New Jersey in October with a powerful performance to produce a third-round KO.
“The location for the semi-final was not important for me, but the fact that it will be in Russia and the beautiful city of Sochi makes me very glad,” said Gassiev.
“This means my family and friends and a lot of people from my home region of Ossetia will be attending. Also, it is always an honour and pleasure to fight in front of my countrymen,” said the 24-year-old and expresses a lot of respect for his upcoming challenge.
“Dorticos is a very good dangerous fighter. It is going to be great to test my skills against an opponent like him. I am confident we will deliver great boxing for fans around the world.”
Cuban Dorticos aka ‘The KO Doctor’, the tournament’s fourth seed, impressed in his quarter-final with a devastating KO victory in the third round over Russian Dmitri Kudryashov in San Antonio in September. And he predicts another jaw-dropping output against another Russian in the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
“I am looking forward to fighting in Sochi. No matter where I fight, I will work hard to take my opponent out,” said 31-year-old Dorticos who is fighting out of Miami, USA.
“I believe I am the best in the world and the future winner of the Muhammad Ali Trophy. I can’t wait to show Gassiev and the fans in Russia and all over the world what ‘The KO Doctor’ is about!”
The cruiserweight final of the World Boxing Super Series will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in May 2018.
Tickets for the Ali Trophy semi-final between Gassiev and Dorticos are going on sale later this month. Fans are asked to sign-up for ticket alerts at worldboxingsuperseries.com to avoid disappointment.
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WBA World Champion Yunier Dorticos (22-0, 21 KOs) is preparing for the fight of his career against IBF World Champion Murat Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) in the Ali Trophy semi-final and wants to make a statement to fight fans all over the world.
A World Boxing Super Series poll shows fans having the most trust in Usyk (74%), Gassiev (10%) and Briedis (9%) to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy in the cruiserweight division. That leaves seven percent for the Miami-based Cuban who views his odds quite differently.
“I have noticed the poll giving Usyk, Gassiev and Briedis a better chance than me to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy, but in my next fight I will have the last word and prove the poll wrong,” said Dorticos.
“I do not compare myself to anyone. I compete with myself. When I am training I hit the bag as if I was fighting with someone.”
“I am preparing my body and soul for the most important fight in my career. Because the only thing I’m going to accept is the victory. My family have deposited their trust and believe in me and I am going to pay back with a victory.”
Dorticos aka ‘The KO Doctor’ stunned in his quarter-final with a devastating KO victory in the third round over Russian Dmitri Kudryashov in San Antonio in September. And he predicts another jaw-dropping output against another Russian, Murat Gassiev, who blew away Polish Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in New Jersey in October with a powerful performance that also produced a third-round KO.
“The truth is I have no words to express my joy after my victory over Kudryashov,” said Dorticos.
“I have worked hard to be able to be a part of this tournament, I have worked hard to be able to prove that I am the best cruiserweight in the world. I believe I am the best in the world, and I can’t wait to fight again and show the fans all over the world once again what ‘The KO Doctor’ is about.”
“I’m ready to show Gassiev what a champion looks like and give him a challenge he’s never faced before. I want to take his belt. In other words; Gassiev is my next victim.”
Fight date and venue for Gassiev vs Dorticos will be announced in the coming weeks, with tickets going on sale later this month. Fans are asked to sign-up for ticket alerts at worldboxingsuperseries.com to avoid disappointment.