Former bantamweight world titleholder Juan Carlos Payano will take part in the 118-pound World Boxing Super Series that begins in the fall, tournament officials announced Monday.
“I am very happy to join the tournament, ecstatic to be very honest,” Payano said. “Looking forward to regaining my championship. It is great to see the best fighting the best and in the end being recognized as truly the best in the division. I want to be recognized as the undisputed best. I want to prove that I am the best.”
Payano (20-1, 9 KOs), 34, of the Dominican Republic, has won three fights in a row since dropping a majority decision and losing his world title to Rau’shee Warren in their rematch in June 2016.
There is one slot still open in the eight-man tournament field that will include Payano, world titleholders Emmanuel Rodriguez, Zolani Tete and Ryan Burnett, former world titlist Nonito Donaire, Jason Moloney (Rodriguez’s mandatory challenger) and secondary titleholder Naoya Inoue, whose team is in the process of finalizing the deal with tournament organizers.
“The bantamweight tournament will be nothing but exceptional,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland, the chief boxing officer for tournament organizer Comosa AG. “Payano is a former champion, an experienced fighter guaranteeing fast-paced action. He is another great addition to a star-studded Season II of the World Boxing Super Series.”
There will be three weight classes in the second season of tournaments: bantamweight, junior welterweight and a third that has not yet been announced.