When Richard Schaefer split from Golden Boy Promotions in 2014, he vowed to one day come back to boxing and change the face of the sport.
“Comosa is proud to announce a close cooperation with the family of the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali, and we are delighted to honour his legacy with this tournament,” said Sauerland, Comosa's Chief Boxing Officer. “Whoever emerges as the winner of the World Boxing Super Series will rightfully receive the greatest prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy.”
The World Boxing Super Series is slated to debut in September and will take place on an annual basis. According to the announcement, the tourney will feature two weight classes, 16 fighters in all and a total of 14 main events. In each weight class, eight boxers will battle it out in a bracket-style elimination tournament, with four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and one final. Comosa AG’s aim is to lure top 15-ranked fighters of the four big federations, namely the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.
The eight quarterfinals — four in each weight class — will take place in September and October 2017, with the four semifinals scheduled for January and February 2018. The two finals matches will then go down in May 2018. The weight classes for the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series — as well as the respective participants — will be announced at the Draft Gala, a live-televised kick-off event in June.
“I have been involved in the sport for a long time and boxing has really been missing a big tournament like the World Boxing Super Series,” said Schaefer, who will act as Comosa’s Chairman of the Americas. “Every major sport has one. This is a fascinating project and I am thrilled to be involved. The quality of the people behind this tournament ensures it will be a success.”
Details regarding which network(s) will air the World Boxing Super Series, as well as host cities and venues, will be announced in the coming weeks.