Jeddah promised a fight to rival the Rumble in the Jungle
Organizer
As you might expect, Sauerland was not backward in selling the significance of the fight.
“The whole world will be watching when this final takes place,” he added.
“The fact that the finals of the inaugural season of the Champions League of boxing is taking place in Saudi Arabia where everyone will be watching is a great platform and I’m sure we can take that forward into the future.
“This is the best versus the best, the world champions, the undefeated challengers and this is the first time there has ever been a Champions League trophy at stake with a total prize fund of $50 million.”
The reason behind his enthusiasm is not hard to see. The line up is impressive. Current WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk kicked off the cruiserweight tournament by spectacularly stopping Marco Huck, a former recordbreaking World Champion himself, in the 10th round in Berlin. Then WBA World Champion Yunier Dorticos defeated No.1 ranked Dmitry Kudryashov with a sensational second round knockout in San Antonio. Mairis Briedis outpointed Cuba’s Mike Peres in Riga to retain his WBC world title belt.
Next up is Russia’s IBF World Champion Murat Gassiev against Poland’s former world champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in New Jersey next weekend, with the winner to face Dorticos.
The dates for the final in Jeddah, and the semis, are yet to be made but, thanks to the high-profile names, the organizers are already predicting sellout crowds with huge interest already shown in the bouts that have taken place.
“We are very happy with what we have done so far,” Roberto Dalmiglio, CEO of Comosa said.
“It was a fantastic discussion with the Saudis, it was impossible to say no. This will be a lot for the world of boxing.
“There will be big crowds of that, we know that.”