23.05.06 – Legendary heavyweight champion George Foreman headlined a briefing today for the upcoming Superfighter gladiatorial elimination boxing tournament and revealed for the first time the Superfighter belt. Foreman tossed the superwide leather belt bearing the Superfighter logo and slogan “Nothing compares” in hammered steel over his shoulder and claimed, “I should be named the real Superfighter, because I’m the only boxer who ever beat five other fighters in one day!”(Which he did, in Toronto, in 1975)..
The briefing was presided over by Superfighter co-founder and CEO Stephen Duval who announced for the first time the lineup for the first Superfighter event — the heavyweight tournament, which is now being rescheduled for the fall of this year in Melbourne, Australia. Duvall said seven of the eight fighters are either locked in or in the final stages of contract negotiations.
They are: Chris Byrd, Former IBF World Champion 39-3 (20 KO); O’Neil Bell, WBC & IBF Cruiserweight No 1, 26-1 (24 KO); Steve Cunningham WBC Cruiserweight No 1, 19-0 (10 KO); Samuel Peter WBC No 3, 25-1 (21 KO); Shannon Briggs, WBC No 7, 45-4 (40 KO); Alexander Povetkin, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, 7-0 (5 KO); Tye Fields, Looking for his shot, 36-1 (33 KO).
Superfighter co-founder and director Warren Spooner outlined the extensive sports background and event production credentials of the Sydney, Australia- based Superfighter, vowing the intention to revitalize boxing — the heavyweight division in particular — and to bring honesty, integrity and professionalism to the sport through the Superfighter series.
Duval and Spooner revealed that the second Superfighter event — eight fighters competing in one day in the “red hot middleweight division” — is being planned for New York City in 2007.
Superfighter is a branded series of elimination short format tournaments featuring four three minute rounds with only the winner of each bout progressing to the semi finals and finals. The winner of the first event this fall will have fought 3 bouts and defeated 3 opponents to become the first World Superfighter Heavyweight Champion and claim the $5 million (US) prize.
George Foreman, who will return to television spots as commentator for the first tournament, said, “Superfighter will be action, action, action. It will be the main event from the first round to the final bell!”
More information is available at www.superfighter.tv