Regis Prograis and Kiryl Relikh and Nonito Donaire and Zolani Tete will continue their quest for the Muhammad Ali Trophy on April 27.
That is when the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series occurs, live and exclusively on DAZN, with a venue currently being finalized.
Prograis (23-0, 19 KOs) will look to stay undefeated and punch his ticket into the super lightweight final when he faces Relikh (23-2, 19 KOs), while Donaire (39-5, 25 KOs) will attempt to slip past Zolani Tete (28-3, 21 KOs) during the bantamweight semifinal.
South Africa’s Tete outpointed Russia’s Mikhail Aloyan in October to book his place in the semifinal, while Donaire ‘The Filipino Flash’ won his quarterfinal fight after the No. 1 bantamweight seed, Ryan Burnett from Ireland, was forced to retire from the bout after four rounds of action due to a lower back injury.
“WBSS has set up such a great opportunity for me to achieve what I’ve always wanted and that’s to be undisputed champion,” Donaire said. “Since the last fight, I took just a couple weeks off and came right back to the gym. Tete is a formidable opponent and we have been preparing since the last fight. I’m even more excited with it being in the U.S. and won’t waste the opportunity to show the crowd what we’ve been working on.”
Meanwhile, Tete vows to stop Donaire.
“Nonito Donaire is a true champion and has had a lot success against my fellow countrymen like Moruti Mthalane and Jeffrey Mathebula in the past, but that stops here,” said Tete. “I respect Nonito, but I have a lot of faith in my own boxing ability and I will come out victorious when we fight.”
“We cannot wait to get started with our Season 2 semifinals and we will announce the venue along with ticket sales in the coming days,” Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s chief boxing officer, said in a press release statement. “All four boxers involved in this spectacular doubleheader impressed in their quarterfinals and these champions will leave it all in the ring to get to the final. Fireworks, guaranteed!”
Relikh defeated Russian Eduard Troyanovsky by a unanimous decision in October to reach the semifinal, while the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Prograis, advanced in more dominant fashion, via a unanimous decision over England’s Terry Flanagan.
“First off, I’m just excited to continue with the tournament,” said Prograis, who’s based out of Houston. “It’s the best fighting the best. That’s what boxing should be about. I know Relikh is a tough and strong fighter and I never look over an opponent, but I have no doubt in my mind that I will win.”
That being said, Relikh is confident about pulling off an upset.
“I’m looking very much to the semi-final and the quest for the Ali Trophy,” said Relikh, representing Belarus. “When I fight, the fans will get the money’s worth. I predict, just like all of my fights, a win for me.”
