The World Boxing Super Series second-season cruiserweight tournament will set up its final with the two semifinals taking place on the same card.
Tournament organizers announced on Tuesday that the semifinal between former world titleholder Yunier Dorticos and Andrew Tabiti has been added to the card headlined by the other semifinal between former world titleholders Mairis Briedis and Krzysztof Glowacki on June 15 (DAZN) at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown.
Dorticos (23-1, 21 KOs), 32, a Cuban defector fighting out of Miami, made it to the semifinals of the WBSS first-season tournament before losing a title unification fight to Murat Gassiev by 12th-round knockout in February 2018. In this tournament Dorticos outpointed Mateusz Masternak on Oct. 20 in Orlando, Florida, to advance to the semis again and is hoping to get to the final this time.
“It’s an honor and I’m extremely excited to fight in Riga. It’s a beautiful country with amazing people and culture,” Dorticos said. “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 semifinals at all cost.”
The Floyd Mayweather-promoted Tabiti (17-0, 13 KOs), 29, of Las Vegas, won a unanimous decision over Ruslan Fayfer in their Oct. 13 quarterfinal fight in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
“I’m looking forward to this fight in Riga,” Tabiti said. “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.”
The Dorticos-Tabiti winner will face the winner between Briedis (25-1, 18 KOs) and Poland’s Glowacki (31-1, 19 KOs) in the fall at a site to be determined for the Muhammad Ali trophy awarded to the tournament victor.
On Nov. 11 in Chicago, Briedis, 34, scored a controversial decision over Germany’s Noel Mikaelian and Glowacki, 32, claimed a vacant interim title by unanimous decision over Russia’s Maksim Vlasov in a quarterfinal doubleheader.
Briedis also advanced to the first-season semifinals but lost a majority decision in a world title unification fight at the Arena Riga to eventual tournament and undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk in January 2018. Glowacki has won five fights in a row since losing a world title by decision in Poland to Usyk in September 2016.