**Update**: World Boxing Super Series

[Ruthless-RKO]

The World Boxing Super Series has rocked the boxing world, and the “World of Boxing” promotional company does not plan to stay on the sidelines.

WBC #1 (and TBRB unrated) Dmitry “The Russian Hammer” Kudryashov (21-1, 21 KOs) is ready and willing to face the cream of the crop of the cruiserweight division, says WOB’s executive director Dmitry Ivanov.

"He should do it as soon as possible, and taking part in the World Boxing Super Series is one of the best ways to do it," adds Ivanov.

Kudryashov is also ranked #5 by the IBF and #10 by the WBO. He is coming off a high-octane thriller in a rematch against the only fighter to beat him – Olanrewaju Durodola – whom he stopped within five rounds to get revenge.

“The tourney’s list includes reigning world champions and top contenders. If WBC cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis takes part in the tournament, then the top-rated WBC contender, who is also the WBC Silver titleholder, definitely must take part there as well. Otherwise, there is no sense in getting involved in the league. If the champions don’t fight top contenders, they cannot pretend to be the best," says Ivanov.

However, the path is different for reigning Super WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-3, 22 KOs), rated #3 by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. There are financial opportunities for the champion outside of the WBSS, so Lebedev isn’t planning to take part in the new series.

Background
The tournament, the first of its kind, will kick off in September 2017. It will be taking place on an annual basis. The inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series will feature two weight classes, 16 fighters 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. This makes for seven top fights per weight class, and a total of 14 fights in season 1 to be staged in premier venues around the globe.

An expert panel will invite the top 15-ranked fighters of the four big federations WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO. The eight Quarter Finals – four in each weight class – will take place in September and October 2017, with the four Semi Finals scheduled for January and February 2018. The two Finals will then go down in May 2018.

It was later announced that the cruiserweight division will feature three top-ranked fighters in Latvian Mairis Briedis (22-0, 18 KOs), Russian Murat Gassiev (24-0, 17 KOs) and Poland’s Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (53-3-1, 37 KOs). TBRB #2 Murat Gassiev is a newly crowned IBF champion (beating Denis Lebedev for only one of his titles), TBRB #6 Briedis beat Marco Huck for a vacant WBC belt, and TBRB #7 Wlodarczyk is a former two-time IBF beltholder.

[Mexi-Box]

Uh, Kudryashov/Gassiev... make... it... HAPPEN!!!

[greg]

..not bad at all, I hope they'll stick to the schedule..

[crusader]

Kud would be another good addition. Limited, but very fun to watch.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Lebedev has better financial opportunities? That's amazing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dorticos had entered..

So thats the WBA 'Regular', WBC and IBF champions..

Former long time champion Wlod is also in.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk maybe close to entering.. according to ESPN.

[Jip]

Usyk maybe close to entering.. according to ESPN.

He should. It would boost his fame should he win the tournament.

[EduardosFist]

Usyk definitely needs to be in this. He's by far my favorite cruiserweight to watch. Marcus Huckster was just added to this as well. His fight tank seems to be just about empty, but it's still a solid addition. This tournament is looking great like old school K-1 tournaments. Whoaaaa I'm getting juiced up just thinking about all these fighters. Hnnggggggggghhhhhhh.

[PsychoGamerTwo]

Usyk definitely needs to be in this. He's by far my favorite cruiserweight to watch. Marcus Huckster was just added to this as well. His fight tank seems to be just about empty, but it's still a solid addition. This tournament is looking great like old school K-1 tournaments. Whoaaaa I'm getting juiced up just thinking about all these fighters. Hnnggggggggghhhhhhh.

It wouldn't be THAT bad if he isn't... he's perceived as THE champion at this division, and if he doesn't join, he'd face the winner regardless. Its still a good tournament, let these guys beat each other up, it won't take long until one of them runs into Usyk. But i gotta say, given the UD's against Glowacki & Hunter, i wouldn't see many KO's for him in this tournament. He might be the best, but there are probably more spectacular match ups.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk has officially joined!

Usyk is thrilled to be fighting for The Greatest Prize in Boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy. “I feel happy and inspired with the idea of such a tournament,” he stated. ”I've been dreaming of putting together all the champs to see who is the strongest and becomes the undisputed king of the division. I look forward to gaining three more world championship belts to my collection as well as the Greatest's Muhammad Ali Trophy!”

[candyslim]

This just gets better and better

[Ruthless-RKO]

Braehmer has dropped down to super middleweight and has joined the tournament.

[crusader]

bleh

[SaadOffTheDeck]

bleh

Yeah, they sure picked the wrong division. They could have went 115 and all of the top guys would have signed up in a second. The Cruiser one is awesome though and I'll watch this to support the best thing to happen in Boxing in decades.

[Ossyrules]

168 could have been good but they need the right people involved

[bujja91]

the 168 tourney needs either chavez jr, eubank jr, ramirez, degale or callum smith to save it, poor lineup so far apart from groves

[Tomasino]

Lebedev has better financial opportunities? That's amazing.

I was thinking he must be going to heavyweight

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Lebedev has better financial opportunities? That's amazing.

I was thinking he must be going to heavyweight

To fight whom? Adamek?

[Ossyrules]

the 168 tourney needs either chavez jr, eubank jr, ramirez, degale or callum smith to save it, poor lineup so far apart from groves

It needs all those guys, except chavez

[Impractical Poster]

..not bad at all, I hope they'll stick to the schedule..

You know things will change. Opponents and such.

[greg]

..not bad at all, I hope they'll stick to the schedule..

You know things will change. Opponents and such.

sure...you just don't want it to go on and on for ever...

[Impractical Poster]

..not bad at all, I hope they'll stick to the schedule..

You know things will change. Opponents and such.

sure...you just don't want it to go on and on for ever...

True... I'm expecting something similar to the Super Six.

[greg]

You know things will change. Opponents and such.

sure...you just don't want it to go on and on for ever...

True... I'm expecting something similar to the Super Six.

..that would be great, looking forward to it..

[Tomasino]

Lebedev has better financial opportunities? That's amazing.

I was thinking he must be going to heavyweight

To fight whom? Adamek?

fornicate knows who but if he's talking about money opportunities outside of the tourney then what's his options? He should join up.