Multi-million global event unveiled

Organisers of a new US$50 million (RM225 million) boxing tournament unveiled plans on Thursday for the World Boxing Super Series, a September-to-May event with two weight classes of fighters chasing the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

Berlin-based Sauerland Promotions, Swedish media company Modern Times Group and Swiss-based event marketing firm Highlight Event and Entertainment have united behind the project as Swiss-registered Comosa AG, officials said at the announcement in New York.

“It is Comosa’s ambition to turn the World Boxing Super Series into the world’s biggest and best boxing tournament,” said Roberto Dalmiglio, Comosa’s management board director.

But there were no deals for fighters announced and exactly which weight divisions would be on offer was not revealed by the group, saying an expert panel will invite fighters ranked among the top 15 by one of the four largest global sanctioning bodies.

The inaugural season will feature two weight classes, which along with the boxers involved will be revealed in June at a “Draft Gala” in which four topseeded rivals will select their quarter-final foes from the other four fighters in their division.

That would set the stage for quarter-final bouts next September and October, semifinals next January and February and championship bouts in May 2018, with fights staged mainly in US and European venues, each headlining a card of its own, and future seasons already planned.

Organisers said they would invite promoters and sanctioning bodies to work with and help organise events, but announced no agreements in place.

World titles from a sanctioning body would be recognised but how such things as mandatory challengers would be handled was not outlined.

Prize money would be divided among all fighters but higher prizes would go to winners and the biggest of all to the eventual tournament champion.