WBSS Cruiserweight (1/2 Final): Yunier Dorticos vs. Andrew Tabiti - June 15, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos (23-1, 21 KOs) and USA’s Andrew Tabiti (17-0, 13 KOs) join Mairis Briedis & Krzysztof Glowacki when they continue their quest for the Ali Trophy in the 200lb division on June 15 at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia.



With the Judgement Day semi-finals taking place the same night the winners will go head-to-head after the battles have been settled.

“It’s an honour and I’m extremely excited to fight in Riga, it’s a beautiful country with amazing people and culture,“ said Dorticos, the tournament No. 2 seed. “My game plan will be simple: Tabiti will learn why I’m called the ‘KO Doctor’. A doctor can operate at any level. It can be a quick procedure or a prolonged procedure. Regardless it will be very painfully for Tabiti.

"I can’t wait for the bell to ring because he’s an obstacle into the final and I will run him over like a train! I will win the semi-finals at all cost.”

The KO artist has the ultimate occasion of redeeming himself after last year's semi-final defeat against Murat Gassiev.

“Once and for I will showcase why I’m the best and most exciting cruiserweight in the world to watch. To all the fans all over the world and to all the fans in Riga you can expect the best version of ‘The KO Doctor’. I’m bringing the fireworks on my fist and it will be a historic night in Riga!” said Dorticos.

“I’m looking forward to this fight in Riga,” said Tabiti, a rising star among legendary Floyd Mayweather’s promotion stable. “I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to prove I’m one of the best out there in my division since the beginning of my career. I believe this is the fight where I’ll show the world that I’m world champion material. My discipline and patience along with my boxing IQ make me confident that I will get the victory over Dorticos.”



Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer said: “We said we wanted to make Riga into a fight city and I think we have already done that, but now we have raised the bar again and we truly make Riga into Las Vegas for one night. We are very excited to continue the Ali Trophy tradition in this great and now established fight city.

Tickets for the hotly-anticipated semi-finals on June 15 will soon go on sale. Fans in the U.S. and Canada can watch the Ali Trophy semi-finals LIVE, exclusively on DAZN.

[DrDuke]

Dorticos is tough, but one-dimensional. Tabiti can outbox him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... sky-sports

The World Boxing Super Series semi-finals, including Josh Taylor's first world title fight against Ivan Baranchyk, will be shown live on Sky Sports.

An exciting schedule for the WBSS starts this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, as Nonito Donaire battles Zolani Tete with the WBA and WBO bantamweight belts at stake, while Regis Prograis also challenges Kiryl Relikh for the WBA super-lightweight title in Louisiana.

Taylor then attempts to become Scotland's latest world champion when he takes on IBF champion Baranchyk in another super-lightweight semi-final at the SSE Hydro on May 18, live on Sky Sports.

The cruiserweight semis will be staged in Latvia on June 15, live on Sky Sports, as former world champions Mairis Briedis and Krzysztof Glowacki collide in the last four, and ex-WBA champion Yunier Dorticos faces unbeaten America Andrew Tabiti for a place in the final.

Adam Smith, head of Sky Sports Boxing, said: "I've admired the talent of Josh Taylor for a while and I'll look forward to another red-hot atmosphere in Glasgow as Taylor bids to become the latest in a line of proud Scottish world champions.

"It's wonderful to add The World Boxing Super Series semi-finals to our stacked Sky Sports schedule for the summer.

"The fearsome Naoya Inoue and four-weight champion Nonito Donaire also bring star quality to a tournament featuring world title fights, former champions, and unbeaten contenders, starting this Saturday on Sky Sports."

"I'm delighted to bring these fight nights to Sky Sports and particularly pleased to air the big May 18 card from Glasgow," said Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing Managing Director. "It's a massive chance for Josh Taylor to become world champion and the fight between pound-for-pound star Inoue and Rodriguez is a cracker.

[oogiebe]

I like Tabiti. I think he'll win this one. He's rather unknown but if you watch his fights, you can see he has that certain 'something.'

[Best Coast]

Nice matchup...hard to pick!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

I’m gonna favour Tabiti. He’s gonna be more hungry. Dorts will want to make up for last tournaments 1/2 finals.

Tabiti isn’t as good as Gassiev, but sometimes these younger boxers shine when given that opportunity.

[dagilechia]

Dorticos by late KO, this one seems more one-sided than the other semi-final

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dorticos by late KO, this one seems more one-sided than the other semi-final

Really? You don’t rate Tabiti?

I thought the scorecards against Cunningham were too wide, but he’s not that bad. Dort’s isn’t exactly elite.0

[dagilechia]

Really? You don’t rate Tabiti?

I thought the scorecards against Cunningham were too wide, but he’s not that bad. Dort’s isn’t exactly elite.0

he was terrible against unknown Ruslan Fayfer and he failed to impress me vs Cunningham as well. He's good but not very good. Tabiti vs Fayfer was a very bad fight.. and who Ruslan Fayfer is? to be honest, i wouldn't favour Tabiti over Masternak, let alone Dorticos. but he's undefeated so i can be wrong. for now i have it 80/20 maybe 75/25 Dorticos. i personally rank Tabiti #6 in my CW rank (before Usyk and Gassiev annouced their move to HW and Vlasov to LHW i had him #9).

1.Dorticos
2.Głowacki
3.Briedis
4.Lebedev
5.Masternak
6.Tabiti
7.Mikaelyan
8,Goulamirian
9.Makabu
10.Lerena
11.Włodarczyk
12.Cieślak
13.Kudryashov
14.Perez
15.Egorov

[Ruthless-RKO]

he was terrible against unknown Ruslan Fayfer and he failed to impress me vs Cunningham as well. He's good but not very good. Tabiti vs Fayfer was a very bad fight.. and who Ruslan Fayfer is? to be honest, i wouldn't favour Tabiti over Masternak, let alone Dorticos. but he's undefeated so i can be wrong. for now i have it 80/20 maybe 75/25 Dorticos. i personally rank Tabiti #6 in my CW rank (before Usyk and Gassiev annouced their move to HW and Vlasov to LHW i had him #9).

1.Dorticos
2.Głowacki
3.Briedis
4.Lebedev
5.Masternak
6.Tabiti
7.Mikaelyan
8,Goulamirian
9.Makabu
10.Lerena
11.Włodarczyk
12.Cieślak
13.Kudryashov
14.Perez
15.Egorov

Let’s see him get past Dorts. I will not be surprised IF Tabiti wins the tournament.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The 33-year-old Dorticos participated in the previous WBSS cruiserweight tournament and suffered his only career loss in a valiant performance against Murat Gassiev in the semifinals. He is very confident that he will win the tournament this time around.

“I had an amazing training camp with my new head coach Pedro Roque and my training team. I’m in the best shape of my career and ready to go 15 rounds if I have to but that won’t be the case,” Dorticos told BozingScene.com upon arrival in Riga.

“I want to tell all the fans in Riga and all over the world make to be sure to tune and watch ‘The KO Doctor’ in action because I’m brining the Miami Heat with lots of fireworks.”

Dorticos respects his unbeaten opponent that is promoted by Mayweather Promotions but believes his skills and experience will be too much for the 29-year-old Tabiti.

“I can’t wait for fight night. This time around the world will know why I am the best cruiserweight once I eliminate Tabiti and move onto the Finals. All the belts and the Ali Trophy are coming home with me to Miami once the WBSS 2 tournament is done!” Said the Cuban.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Both boxers weighed 199.3 pounds for the interim title fight, although the eventual victor will likely receive an upgrade to full titlist prior to the finals.

[ironbeard]

My heart is with Tabiti but this is a very major test for him. Dorticos wants this bad.

What an excellent weekend of fights we have on tap!

[ValMar]

Dorticos by late KO, this one seems more one-sided than the other semi-final

x2..............

[oogiebe]

Tabiti late TKO.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Poll now open. For any revotes.

[lazboy]

Can’t stand Tabiti, extremely timid fighter with no effort and expenditure. Fights like he is pacing himself for 30 rounds.

Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration.

[dagilechia]

Tabiti is solid at everything but he lacks something special, he is the type of fighter who gets to the top 5-10, good but not great.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yunier Dorticos
Age: 33
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBA cruiserweight (2016-18, 1 Defense)
Height: 6’3
Weight: 199 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Miami, Florida (Born in Cuba)
Record: 23-1, 21 KO, 1 KOBY
Press Rankings: #3 (TBRB, Ring), #4 (ESPN), #5 (Boxing Monthly), #6 (BoxRec)
WBSS Seed: 2
Record in Major Title Fights: 1-1, 1 KO, 1 KOBY (2-1, 2 KO, 1 KOBY including interim title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 136-18-1 (.881)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Murat Gassiev TKO by 12

vs.

Andrew Tabiti
Age: 29
Titles/Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’1
Weight: 199 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Chicago, Illinois
Record: 17-0, 13 KO
Press Rankings: #5 (TBRB), #6 (Ring, Boxing Monthly), #8 (ESPN)
WBSS Seed: Unseeded
Record in Major Title Fights: No title fights
Last Five Opponents: 101-10-3 (.899)
Current/Former World Champions Faced: Steve Cunningham UD10

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF is fully on the line

[ValMar]

IBF is fully on the line

[ValMar]

Tabiti is too dirty...............

[DrDuke]

Tabiti is too dirty...............

Yeah. Too much dirty spoiling tactics by him. A poo fight.

[jujigatame]

I'm a couple rounds behind on the stream right now but Tabiti looks extremely mediocre and the fight is ugly as hell.

[DrDuke]

Yeah! Dorticos punished the spoiler!