Worry No More – Ryan Burnett re-confirmed for World Boxing Super Series
Following a couple of weeks of uncertainty, Belfast’s Ryan Burnett has been re-confirmed for the upcoming second season of the World Boxing Super Series
WBA bantamweight champion Burnett [19(9)-0] was one of the first three fighters confirmed for the eight-man single-elimination tournament back in May but his absence from a press release and a non-response to enquiries raised doubts over his continued participation.
Thankfully the Irishman was again confirmed tonight as the full line-up was finalised for the tournament with a reported top prize of $4,000,000.
25-year-old Burnett will compete alongside WBO champ Zolani Tete, IBF titlist Manny Rodriguez, IBF mandatory Jason Moloney, former four-weight champ Nonito Donaire, former two-weight champ and tournament favourite Naoya Inoue, former champ Juan Carlos Payano, and Russian former amateur star Misha Aloyan who was also confirmed tonight having previously been announced by his national governing body.
Burnett said that “I can’t wait to fight against the best in my division.”
“The dream is to unify titles and win the Ali Trophy and I am happy for the opportunity to fulfil it.”
The quarter-finals, which will take place across September and October, will be decided at the Draft Gala in Moscow on Friday night where the four seeded fighters will pick their opening opponents.
While it is not confirmed, it is widely assumed Burnett will be seeded for the gala alongside Rodriguez, Tete, and Inoue, and tonight’s release also seems to suggest that the North Belfast man will be the number one seed.
A quarter-final match-up between Rodriguez and Moloney has been pre-arranged which may leave Burnett a choice between Payano, Aloyan, and Belfast favourite Donaire.
Burnett has stated his desire for his opening bout to be at the SSE Odyssey Arena in Belfast where he won and unified titles last year versus Lee Haskins and Zhanat Zhakiyanov respectively.
