WBSS Cruiserweight Tournament Finals Odds – The WBSS Cruiserweight tournament final between Olekandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev appears set for July 21st. The original date was set for the end of May but that date fell by the wayside to accomodate an elbow injury by Usyk.
The date at the end of May would have seen the finals go down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but the exotic location has apparently fallen through. Usyk is going to be ready for July 21st and that is what is most important, however we are still waiting the announcement of a new host venue. Once the WBSS announces wherer the fight will take place it will make things seem more final. The WBSS went on to announce a second season led by a bantamweight tournament in May but everyone is waiting for them to finish the two tournaments they started last year.
Check out the GMS take on the state of WBSS’ 168 pound tourney at “WBSS Super Middleweight Turmoil?”
Gassiev is chomping at the bit to get this tournament over with. He made it through his semi-final war with Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos unscathed so he was good to go in May. At 24 years old he is moving his career at a fast track and unifying the belts at 200 pounds at this early stage in his career is what he has his sights set on.
Gassiev is going to move forward and if he cannot score an early stop he is going to settle in and let his bludgeoning body work start to add up on Usyk. He is going to have to do something to slow Usyk down as the Ukrainian keeps a very highwork rate. Usyk’s work rate and precision all mean he is likely to be banking rounds with the judges.
Usyk entered the tournament as the #1 seed and he is holding as the favorite entering the finals. He is an Olympic gold medalist as a heavyweight and as a pro he has gone 14-0 in the cruiserweight division. He is on the cusp of unifying the belts in the weight class and from there you can look for him to move up and compete at heavyweight.
Usyk is a team mate of Vasyl Lomachenko and though he is 70 pounds heavier, his footwork, movement and angles evoke the lightweight stud’s frenzied style. The 31 year old Usyk is coming off a slim majority decision win over Mairis Breidis in which he looked human at times. The hurt elbow may have something to do with that performance but Usyk is facing a guy in Gassiev who is going to be relentless for as long as the fight is on. Usyk will benefit if he can hurt Gassiev because if not he is going t have trouble keeping hi off for twelve rounds.
It is a terrific fight and one that boxing afficionados should watch. As sometimes happens in the sweet science, this one might be a brawl or it might be one of those here a technical boxing match breaks out.
WBC world heavyeight champion Deontay Wilder has been talking about coming down to the cruiserweight division for a few matches. That would be a best case scenario for either Usyk or Gassiev as the presence of Wilder would mean a big money fight. Let’s hope the July 21st date doesn’t get delayed again.
7/21 – World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Tournament Finals
12 Rounds – Cruiserweight
Oleksandr Usyk -260
Murat Gassiev +200
WBSS Cruiserweight Tournament Finals Odds / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
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