Sauerland offers Belfast Unification reward to Burnett ahead of Donaire clash

Ryan Burnett [19(9)-0] will bring the World Super Series of Boxing to Belfast if he overcomes Nonito Donaire tomorrow night.

The WBA bantamweight champion fights for a place in the semi-final of tournament that pits the best against the best in Glasgow on Saturday night at the SSE Hydro.

Victory over the four-weight world champion will set up a mouth-watering unification clash with a fighter the Belfast fans have gotten to know due to his appearances on Carl Frampton undercards in over the last 12 months, Zolani Tete.

The South African defeated Misha Aloyan last month to defend his WBO belt in Russia and a semi-final in Africa is a non-starter. If Burnett does the business tomorrow and the semi-final does become a reality, the fight will come to Belfast claims the tournament’s Chief Boxing Officer, Kalle Sauerland.

“You’re odds on, though he has to get past Donaire first,” the German-English fight maker said when asked about the possibility of the clash playing out in the fight capital of Europe.

“It’s not a chance… it’s an extremely strong chance that if Burnett wins you’ll see him in the semi-final in Belfast.”

It’s great news for Burnett, who would have home advantage following successive fights in Britain, and Irish fight fans who get to see another high profile world title fight in the flesh – and indeed Irish fighters.

Burnett v Donaire was meant to take place in the Adam Booth-trained fighter’s home city but a lack of availability of the SSE Odyssey Arena meant Glasgow was revealed as the destination for the card which is topped by the light welter quarter between Josh Taylor and Ryan Martin..

Irish-Boxing.com believe that, if the original plan came to fruition, the undercard would have been stacked with Irish fighters – which suggest the same made be said of the semi-final. A host of Irish talent may get the chance to show their wares on a massive card and benefit from the success of one of three Irish reigning world champs.

Regardless of the undercard, the WBSS has provided some thrilling fights since it’s debut last year and Sauerland points out what makes it a unique and entertaining format.

“We call it ‘the Champions League of boxing’ for a reason; we have the best in it. It’s special,” he said.

“The guys go in and lay it all on the line. It’s not about taking a year, having a few easy fights, make some money, this is about going against the best.”

“Boxing is all about risk, that’s why it’s one of the most highly paid sports and here they really earn it and we try and put them on a platform second to none – we’re the biggest lightshow in boxing.”