WBSS Super-Middleweight Final - O2 Arena on 2 June 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kalle Sauerland has informed Boxing Scene of a date for the diary of a number of British fight fans.

The chief boxing officer of the World Boxing Super Series, who is one half of Team Sauerland along with his brother Nisse, recently revealed the date and venue for the final of the Ali Trophy tournament in the super-middleweight division.

George Groves defends his WBA Super title at super-middleweight in the first semi-final of the tournament on Saturday (February 17), exclusively live on ITV Box Office in the UK, priced at £16.95, when he takes on IBO champion Chris Eubank Jr. at Manchester Arena.

And the winner of that fight will then be back in the ring at the O2 Arena on June 2 in the final of the super-middleweight WBSS tournament.

Callum Smith, who defends his WBC Diamond super-middleweight crown against Juergen Braehmer, will box on February 24 at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung in Nürnberg, Germany.

The Smith-Braehmer winner will then take on either Groves or Eubank, depending on who wins on February 17, for the greatest prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy, as well as for the WBC Diamond, IBO and WBA Super world titles.

[Taansend]

Braemher could cost him a few quid

[Ruthless-RKO]

Braemher could cost him a few quid

They're assuming Smith is going to beat Braehmer...

Eubank or Groves are guaranteed in the final though..

The final will be for the WBC Diamond, IBO and WBA Super world titles... Would have been bigger if it was another world title or undisputed..

[East End]

The O2 venue is in high demand for Saturday evenings and I think getting it booked for the WBSS super-mid final now is a smart move. I am confident of Smith stopping Braehmer but even if the German wins it is still a guatanteed sell out event

[Taansend]

Braemher could cost him a few quid

Eubank or Groves are guaranteed in the final though..

[Stuarty]

Braemher could cost him a few quid

Eubank or Groves are guaranteed in the final though..

[East End]

Braemher could cost him a few quid

The final will be for the WBC Diamond, IBO and WBA Super world titles... Would have been bigger if it was another world title or undisputed..

Yes that is why I think the cruiserweight tournament has been more intriguing and a lot better for the sport than the super-mid: all of the relevant 200Ib world champions were involved. Fair enough, DeGale was injured and Jack was moving up in weight but I was disappointed in Ramirez for not putting up. It's not as though the title defences he has made in the past year have been megafights, neither were they ever likely to be. All very well Gilberto saying he wants to fight the WBSS winner but that's like showing up at someone else's birthday party and demanding the biggest slice of cake.

[Taansend]

Braemher could cost him a few quid

The final will be for the WBC Diamond, IBO and WBA Super world titles... Would have been bigger if it was another world title or undisputed..

Yes that is why I think the cruiserweight tournament has been more intriguing and a lot better for the sport than the super-mid: all of the relevant 200Ib world champions were involved. Fair enough, DeGale was injured and Jack was moving up in weight but I was disappointed in Ramirez for not putting up. It's not as though the title defences he has made in the past year have been megafights, neither were they ever likely to be.

Yeah, Ramirez's first three defences have been very Calzagheesque so far. Maybe his management team thought that waiting for a challenge for the winner would be better.

Of course, if Benevidez comes through this weekend there's a unification bout with him but is the money there for that?

And there's Degale who's a little bit of a name in the US. If can regain his belt there's Ramirez v Degale or Ramirez v double Degale slayer Truax.

[East End]

The final will be for the WBC Diamond, IBO and WBA Super world titles... Would have been bigger if it was another world title or undisputed..

Yes that is why I think the cruiserweight tournament has been more intriguing and a lot better for the sport than the super-mid: all of the relevant 200Ib world champions were involved. Fair enough, DeGale was injured and Jack was moving up in weight but I was disappointed in Ramirez for not putting up. It's not as though the title defences he has made in the past year have been megafights, neither were they ever likely to be.

Yeah, Ramirez's first three defences have been very Calzagheesque so far. Maybe his management team thought that waiting for a challenge for the winner would be better.

Of course, if Benevidez comes through this weekend there's a unification bout with him but is the money there for that?

And there's Degale who's a little bit of a name in the US. If can regain his belt there's Ramirez v Degale or Ramirez v double Degale slayer Truax.

When it comes to DeGale I think that's a big 'if'. It's not as though it was a one-off poor showing against Truax. He wasn't great against Bute, laboured against the barely mediocre Porky Medina and, imo, was extremely lucky to escape with a draw against Jack. In his interview after the Truax fight he kept saying he would have to look at what went wrong in camp. I thought that was thinly veiled criticism of Jim McDonnell and I fully expected a parting of ways soon after. It may yet happen and, much as I like Jimmy Mac, I think James may only be able to make it back to the summit with a new guide.

[Taansend]

Yes that is why I think the cruiserweight tournament has been more intriguing and a lot better for the sport than the super-mid: all of the relevant 200Ib world champions were involved. Fair enough, DeGale was injured and Jack was moving up in weight but I was disappointed in Ramirez for not putting up. It's not as though the title defences he has made in the past year have been megafights, neither were they ever likely to be.

Yeah, Ramirez's first three defences have been very Calzagheesque so far. Maybe his management team thought that waiting for a challenge for the winner would be better.

Of course, if Benevidez comes through this weekend there's a unification bout with him but is the money there for that?

And there's Degale who's a little bit of a name in the US. If can regain his belt there's Ramirez v Degale or Ramirez v double Degale slayer Truax.

When it comes to DeGale I think that's a big 'if'. It's not as though it was a one-off poor showing against Truax. He wasn't great against Bute, laboured against the barely mediocre Porky Medina and, imo, was extremely lucky to escape with a draw against Jack. In his interview after the Truax fight he kept saying he would have to look at what went wrong in camp. I thought that was thinly veiled criticism of Jim McDonnell and I fully expected a parting of ways soon after. It may yet happen and, much as I like Jimmy Mac, I think James may only be able to make it back to the summit with a new guide.

I see what you mean. I just think his body is a bit broken.

He hasn't won a fight in almost two years now. I'm just not sure if he has the mental drive anymore although the loss may have spurred him on but I've heard nowt about him training.

[JimJim2009]

Eubank or Groves are guaranteed in the final though..

[BrumBlue]

If I was Degale, I'd fight the loser of Eubank v Groves which would still be a huge fight in the UK and generate a big purse(particularly Groves), and then call it day.

[Stuarty]

If I was Degale, I'd fight the loser of Eubank v Groves which would still be a huge fight in the UK and generate a big purse(particularly Groves), and then call it day.

I still can't quite get my head round his last performance. It just wasn't there at all. He looked shot to fukk. That Jack fight must've more or less finished him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

All set now