World Boxing Super Series kicks off tomorrow!

We’re here! After many months of planning the World Boxing Super Series is set to begin with the opening round of its cruiserweight tournament. The tournament’s first fight will be between WBO titlist Oleksandr Usyk (12-0, 10 KOs) and Marco Huck (40-4-1, 27 KOs) in an opening quarterfinals match. The fight will be held at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany.

This fight will kick off eight straight weeks of tournament action (at both cruiser and super middleweight) with a total of $50M in prize money awarded to the participants. The ultimate winners of both tourney’s will also receive the Muhammad Ali trophy.

Unfortunately, as the tournament has secured television rights in a few countries, the United States has not been one of them, and that really sucks! ESPN reports that both Showtime and Epix were in negotiations to secure TV rights, but both of those deals fell through (presumably because the organizers of the tournament insisted on networks buying all of the tournament bouts, no one-offs).

That was probably too much of a commitment and too steep of a price to pay for a tournament that will mostly be taking place overseas, during off-peak hours in The States. So, as they say, ‘it is what it is.’

But speaking on the opening bout, Marco Huck says:

"When I fight, there's always something going on. It's never boring, but spectacular. Huck fans around the world know that a Huck fight means entertainment. When I reach my potential on fight night, I can beat everyone. I am very optimistic and confident that I will beat Usyk."

Usyk, however, has other plans. Quite literally.

"I have a tactic specifically aimed at Huck. This is necessary, because in my opinion, he is one of my toughest competitors in this tournament," he said. "But why should I talk about it now and give Huck an advantage that he does not deserve? The surprising moment is on my side now, and I will take this advantage with me in the ring. Huck, by the way, has an advantage because he is at home in front of his audience in Berlin. This definitely makes him stronger, but I love this challenge."

This fight aside, the super middleweight tourney is set to begin next weekend, Sept. 16, with an opening quarterfinals match between Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KOs) taking on Erik Skoglund (26-0, 12 KOs) at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

We’ll keep you updated!