World Boxing Super Series in jeopardy of cancellation; some fighters still await bonuses

[Ruthless-RKO]

There’s mounting concern among those connected with the World Boxing Super Series that the ambitious single-elimination tournament will discontinue before the second season is complete, multiple industry sources told The Ring.

Turmoil has been brewing behind the scenes among the board at Comosa AG, the group banking the tourney. At the heart of the issue: some investors have funded more than their promised share; others haven’t met their due, per sources. Roberto Dalmiglio, a former group commercial director at media rights company MP & Silva, is head of management board at Comosa.

The semifinals are slated for February and March, and the matchups are set, but as of now, there’s been no sites secured for any of the six bouts; no dates, either. The second round of the tournament is jeopardy of falling apart, per sources, but there’s hope the board will solve the issues.

The World Boxing Super Series wasn’t able to provide comment at this time. DAZN, which is distributing Season 2 of the World Boxing Super Series, didn’t have comment when reached by The Ring.

Several fighters are still waiting for their bonuses to be paid out from their quarterfinal bouts, according to sources. The first round of Season 2 completed in October.

The World Boxing Super Series contract requires participants to submit invoices for purses, an uncommon practice. The contract stipulates that fighters receive payment within five business days of invoice submission; in some cases, that promise has been met. Boxers are typically handed a paycheck the day of the fight.

In all, there’s 24 boxers who entered Season 2, which features cruiserweights, bantamweights and junior welterweights. Twelve fighters now remain.

The semifinal matchups that are in jeopardy of being cancelled: Josh Taylor-Ivan Baranchyk; Regis Prograis-Kiryl Relikh; Zolani Tete-Nonito Donaire; Naoya Inoue-Emmanuel Rodriguez; Mairis Briedis-Krzysztof Glowacki; Yunier Dorticos-Andrew Tabiti.

The WBSS delivered in Season 1 with some terrific fights. The tourney succeeding in crowning a new Ring champion at both super middleweight (Callum Smith) and cruiserweight (Aleksandr Usyk). Usyk went on to a lucrative bout with Tony Bellew last month. The Ukrainian is the leading candidate for fighter of the year honors.

The tourney, in its second installment, has showcased talented fighters like Taylor and Prograis, The Ring’s top two 140-pounders. Inoue, who blasted out Juan Carlos Payano in a single round i October, has ascended to the No. 6 spot in The Ring’s pound-for-pound ratings. With $50 million in prize money for Season 1, organizers were able to accumulate an impressive assortment of talent in the cruiserweight and super middleweight divisions, too.

Tournaments of this caliber are rare in boxing. It’s difficult to satisfy so many different fighters and promoters. It’s also a financial risk, with a fighter like Usyk building his name before signing with Eddie Hearn. The WBSS holds no options on its participants.

The World Boxing Super Series failed to find a U.S. television home for Season 1, and backers lost out on the license fees that accompany it. DAZN scooped up rights to stream Season 2, as well as the Season 1 cruiserweight final between Smith and George Groves.

If organizers behind the scenes can’t solve these issues quickly, the World Boxing Super Series could fall apart before the second iteration ever reaches the semis.

Mike Coppinger is the Senior Writer for RingTV.com

[ironbeard]

That would suck like a giant leech.

[Onetimeonly]

That would be awful, but not shocking. Giving heavyweight money to obscure fighters isn't a great business model.

[DrDuke]

I just hope, this season will be completed.

[gilgamesh]

It always seemed unsustainable to me in the first place honestly. That they were paying as much as they were to fights that aren't even getting aired on U.S. Television. I just never saw how they could've possibly had THAT much money to pay these guys, and as it turns out, they don't.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It always seemed unsustainable to me in the first place honestly. That they were paying as much as they were to fights that aren't even getting aired on U.S. Television. I just never saw how they could've possibly had THAT much money to pay these guys, and as it turns out, they don't.

They should have done double headers for season 2 aswell. But I hope they get through this season. Bantamweight and Super-lightweights are very good.

[jamamb]

dang, hope they finish this season because we were just getting into the good stuff

glowacki vs briedis
tabiti vs dort

taylor vs baranchyk
prograis vs relikh

inoue vs rod
tete vs donaire

and of courze all the finals to come from that

[gilgamesh]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

[oogiebe]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

Agreed. It makes it look like an annual 'season' which boxing is anything but. It's not baseball, or "The Contender."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

Agreed. It makes it look like an annual 'season' which boxing is anything but. It's not baseball, or "The Contender."

Yeh we didn’t need a 3rd division.

[ewenhay]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

Yeah and they spread themselves too thin having 3 tournaments running at the same time

[tiny_acres]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

I thought so too. But numerous posters here thought it was a good idea since the first was so good.
I still would like to see a heavyweight tournament with some of the undefeated top 20 guys.
I think there is money in that

[gilgamesh]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

I thought so too. But numerous posters here thought it was a good idea since the first was so good.
I still would like to see a heavyweight tournament with some of the undefeated top 20 guys.
I think there is money in that

From the sound of it they'll be lucky to get through these, and that'll be that for the WBSS. Highly doubtful they'll launch a 3rd season of Tournaments having this kinda financial woes so early in the 2nd.

[tiny_acres]

Was really stupid for them to have done the Cruiserweight division a 2nd time in a row I thought.

I thought so too. But numerous posters here thought it was a good idea since the first was so good.
I still would like to see a heavyweight tournament with some of the undefeated top 20 guys.
I think there is money in that

From the sound of it they'll be lucky to get through these, and that'll be that for the WBSS. Highly doubtful they'll launch a 3rd season of Tournaments having this kinda financial woes so early in the 2nd.

Well I hope either Oscar or Hearn picks up a similar model for dazn.
It could fill some of those dates there needing and again a heavyweight tournament could draw good numbers also.

[jamamb]

there are still some nice cw fights in the 2nd season, though it makes you wonder why they went to 3 divisions if they had money issues

[Boxing101101]

unfortunately the wbss is slowly fading away. season 1 was epic and was great for the sport however it has had its problems. it will be a shame if the wbss does get cancelled but it was fun whilst it lasted