Ivan Baranchyk Withdraws from World Boxing Super Series Tourney

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dan Rafael’s Full article

Dave McWater, the manager for junior welterweight world titleholder Ivan Baranchyk, told ESPN on Wednesday that the fighter is withdrawing from the World Boxing Super Series tournament because they are frustrated over financial issues they have with tournament organizers and a lack of communication over when and where the semifinals -- which have already been delayed -- are supposed to take place.

"We are definitely pulling out. Ivan was supposed to fight [Josh] Taylor in Glasgow [Scotland] in late May. That was what I was hearing, but they haven't spoken to any of us, not me, not [co-promoter] Lou [DiBella]."

McWater echoed what several others involved in the tournament have said -- that they were made to wait for payment for their quarterfinal bout and received what they were contractually owed only after threatening litigation.

"We got the purse for the quarterfinals but we had to wait about two months for the win bonus that Ivan was owed, and we didn't get it until after we had to threaten them," McWater said. "They paid us late and now they are refusing to put the money in escrow for the semifinals until the fight. They won't even put part of the money in escrow."

Several fighter camps complained about late payments or not being paid at all funds that were owed to them during the WBSS second season as Comosa AG, the company that owns the tournament, struggled to meet its obligations when one or more of its investors failed to deliver their share.

"We feel like they are not going to be able to pay us," McWater said. "They're not willing to negotiate putting money in escrow in a timely fashion. We don't believe the fight will happen anyway and we're burning daylight. Ivan is missing fights. We're incredibly disappointed because we wanted this tournament to work so badly. We are not pulling out because we have some other plan, but I feel confident somebody will make us an offer.

"Ivan has a world title, so I don't expect us to sit around. This kid looks at his boxing as a 9-to-5 job. He trains every single day. How do you tell him there are all these delays because they don't have the money?"

McWater said he would not be surprised if there was litigation over Baranchyk's withdrawal but "I think we win. We may end up in court. We are the injured party and were more than fair with them. They are the ones in breach of their contract."

A Comosa AG spokesperson told ESPN, "We have not received any notice of Ivan Baranchyk pulling out of the tournament. Ivan Baranchyk was paid a very large sum to challenge for a vacant title and the WBSS and its shareholders have invested hugely into its brand. Its contracts are watertight and any failure to meet them will be met with the very hardest of consequences. This applies to all fighters and also to promoters, managers and agents alike."

DiBella, who co-promotes Baranchyk (19-0, 12 KOs), a 26-year-old who was born in Russia but fought most of his career in the United States, with Tony Holden and Fight Promotions, said he is not a party to the tournament contract but supported the decision to pull out.

"I understand the decision that was made by Ivan and Dave McWater. They're extremely frustrated and had a number of significant concerns about continuing in the WBSS," DiBella said. "As Ivan's co-promoter, I reached out to the WBSS to convey their concerns and provide them with an opportunity to give comfort to Ivan and to provide specifics with respect to the next round of the tournament and the final, as well as comfort with respect to the money presently being there to meet their obligations. But a number of phone calls were not returned and a substantive letter sent last week was not replied to."

DiBella is also junior welterweight semifinalist Regis Prograis' promoter and said that Prograis' continued participation in the tournament is up in the air.

"Regis' future in the tournament has to be determined by Regis and his management, Churchill Boxing," he said. "As with Ivan, DiBella Entertainment is not in contractual privity with the World Boxing Super Series."

[NoScoutingReports]

Real shame, this. After the success of the first season of the WBSS it seems like financial issues may be hindering the possibility of any future bouts. Thought Taylor & Baranchyk had the makings of a top fight too.

[lazboy]

Real shame, this. After the success of the first season of the WBSS it seems like financial issues may be hindering the possibility of any future bouts. Thought Taylor & Baranchyk had the makings of a top fight too.

A shame. Not sure if dedicating money to a second CW tournament was wise...we had just seen the top fight. If financial issues maybe would have been best to stick with jww only.

[NoScoutingReports]

Real shame, this. After the success of the first season of the WBSS it seems like financial issues may be hindering the possibility of any future bouts. Thought Taylor & Baranchyk had the makings of a top fight too.

A shame. Not sure if dedicating money to a second CW tournament was wise...we had just seen the top fight.

Good point. Not much in the way of demand for a 2nd CW tournament, especially after seeing all of the titles secured by Usyk.

Unfortunate for Taylor after working his way towards his first world title tilt.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Real shame, this. After the success of the first season of the WBSS it seems like financial issues may be hindering the possibility of any future bouts. Thought Taylor & Baranchyk had the makings of a top fight too.

A shame. Not sure if dedicating money to a second CW tournament was wise...we had just seen the top fight.

Good point. Not much in the way of demand for a 2nd CW tournament, especially after seeing all of the titles secured by Usyk.

Unfortunate for Taylor after working his way towards his first world title tilt.

Yeh. Shame. Taylor could have picked up his first world title.

Even Prog now might exit.

They should have had the semi’s around late Jan/Feb, like last year.. they already pushed it back to May. Boxers want to stay active.

[NoScoutingReports]

WBSS have now announced the fight?! Not sure what's going on.

[NoScoutingReports]

World Boxing Super Series article regarding Taylor v Baranchyk

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yeh just seen.



Maybe it was just a threat or something. Funny it’s been announced the same day.

There will be another Semi on that card i’m Guessing.

[NoScoutingReports]

Yeh just seen.



Maybe it was just a threat or something. Funny it’s been announced the same day.

There will be another Semi on that card i’m Guessing.

Hope so, will probably go.

[Cent0089]

Hm Johs Taylor will fight in home court again? As far as i like this guy i am going to root for Baranchyk. Because whole arena will boo him :-/

[diddy]

Taylor will outbox Ivan clearly IMO. Fighting at home just ensures victory.

[boxing_rocks]

Yeh just seen.



Maybe it was just a threat or something. Funny it’s been announced the same day.

There will be another Semi on that card i’m Guessing.

Threat which was met by a counter threat:

[dickbelden]

UPDATE http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/boxing- ... ev-winner/

[JohnMcMinn]

I hope the fight really is back on and I'm rooting for Baranchyk. I want the Miami, Oklahoma, boy (by way of Russia) to win it all!

[KiwiRider]

Seems like it's on.
I doubt Saunderland is dumb enough not to have the fighters pretty well wrapped in contracts anyway. They have had plenty of practice.
Just the wait to see if there is another semi final on the card

[jamamb]

if this is on i certanly hope 118 is too

[Best Coast]

It would be a shame to see the WBSS go under after such a brief history and such a good start!! Hope they work everything out!!

[Stuarty]

Yeh just seen.



Maybe it was just a threat or something. Funny it’s been announced the same day.

There will be another Semi on that card i’m Guessing.

Hope so, will probably go.

Same here mate. I'm considering taking my oldest boy to it for his first fight.

[NoScoutingReports]

Yeh just seen.



Maybe it was just a threat or something. Funny it’s been announced the same day.

There will be another Semi on that card i’m Guessing.

Hope so, will probably go.

Same here mate. I'm considering taking my oldest boy to it for his first fight.

Great stuff

[NoScoutingReports]

People can sign up for ticket alerts for this at the following link, if they so wish:

Click here

[dagilechia]

the problem with WBSS is that a lot of the fights are not held where those fights would generate the most money.

Briedis vs Gevor in Chicago? why not in Riga or Hamburg? why not Głowacki vs Vlasov in Poland or Russia? Masternak vs Dorticos would bring more people and generate more money even in Germany i guess than in Florida. Fayfer vs Tabiti, why in Russian far east, why not Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan or even USA, in Chicago? CW is an ''European'' division and it should be held, at least 3 out of 4 fights, in Europe. but not one was held in Europe and all those fights combined were attended by like 4-5k people, that's ridiculous.

btw 2 weeks ago Glowacki said that they still havent paid him the win bonus money.

[dagilechia]

Baranchyk is my dark horse, i think that he can win this tournament.

[NoScoutingReports]

Full article from The Ring

Ivan Baranchyk has withdrawn from the World Boxing Super Series, his manager, David McWater, told The Ring on Thursday.

The 140-pound titleholder’s exit from the tourney comes amid growing concerns that organizers possess the proper funds to see the WBSS through to completion. The Ring previously reported that many fighters, promoters and managers received payment late amid squabbling between partners at Comosa, the group backing the tourney.

The semifinals were slated to take place in either January, February or March, according to the contract. As organizers sought to find new financial backing, that timeline was pushed back, angering some boxers (along with their handlers) who didn’t want to miss out on a cycle and the lost funds that would accompany it. Fighters at the championship level typically compete two to three times a year.

Ivan's manager is still insisting his fighter has withdrawn..

[Stuarty]

Full article from The Ring

Ivan Baranchyk has withdrawn from the World Boxing Super Series, his manager, David McWater, told The Ring on Thursday.

The 140-pound titleholder’s exit from the tourney comes amid growing concerns that organizers possess the proper funds to see the WBSS through to completion. The Ring previously reported that many fighters, promoters and managers received payment late amid squabbling between partners at Comosa, the group backing the tourney.

The semifinals were slated to take place in either January, February or March, according to the contract. As organizers sought to find new financial backing, that timeline was pushed back, angering some boxers (along with their handlers) who didn’t want to miss out on a cycle and the lost funds that would accompany it. Fighters at the championship level typically compete two to three times a year.

Ivan's manager is still insisting his fighter has withdrawn..

What now for Taylor? How long do you see him hanging around at 140? I can see him making the step up to 147 soon.

[NoScoutingReports]

Full article from The Ring

Ivan Baranchyk has withdrawn from the World Boxing Super Series, his manager, David McWater, told The Ring on Thursday.

The 140-pound titleholder’s exit from the tourney comes amid growing concerns that organizers possess the proper funds to see the WBSS through to completion. The Ring previously reported that many fighters, promoters and managers received payment late amid squabbling between partners at Comosa, the group backing the tourney.

The semifinals were slated to take place in either January, February or March, according to the contract. As organizers sought to find new financial backing, that timeline was pushed back, angering some boxers (along with their handlers) who didn’t want to miss out on a cycle and the lost funds that would accompany it. Fighters at the championship level typically compete two to three times a year.

Ivan's manager is still insisting his fighter has withdrawn..

What now for Taylor? How long do you see him hanging around at 140? I can see him making the step up to 147 soon.

It's hard to say at the minute! If the tournament goes ahead and a replacement is drafted in for Baranchyk then the semi-final will most likely lose all of it's prestige (not to mention the IBF 140 title along with a battle of two good unbeaten fighters). Prograis has also been rumored to be considering pulling out which would leave the Super-Lightweight tournament without it's two front-runners (as per the seeding).

If the 140 season was scrapped then maybe Taylor will look towards a shot at another champion at his current weight class before considering a move up? Both Ramirez and Hooker are fighting in March I think so that would cause further inactivity unless he met Relikh?

Hope it gets sorted and the tournament continues but doesn't look good.