The World Boxing Super Series announced on Tuesday that the bantamweight semifinal between world titlist Emmanuel Rodriguez and secondary titlist "Monster" Naoya Inoue will take place on May 18 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. However, it remains to be seen if the fight will actually happen on that date or at that venue.
Rodriguez-Inoue is ticketed to be the co-feature of the junior welterweight semifinal between world titlist Ivan Baranchyk and Scotland's Josh Taylor, but two weeks ago Baranchyk's manager, Dave McWater, told ESPN that Baranchyk has withdrawn from the tournament. The following day, despite Baranchyk's withdrawal, the World Boxing Super Series announced Baranchyk-Taylor for May 18 in Glasgow.
McWater said that Baranchyk, who won a vacant belt against Anthony Yigit in the quarterfinals on Oct. 27 in New Orleans, withdrew over financial issues, a lack of communication from tournament officials and unhappiness about being forced to fight in Glasgow, where Taylor also got to fight his quarterfinal fight.
The troubled World Boxing Super Series, which is owned by Comosa AG and is into the semifinal stage in its three second-season eight-man tournaments in the cruiserweight, junior welterweight and bantamweight divisions, has had issues covering purses and bonus money to fighters and payments to managers and promoters because one of its investors pulled out, according to McWater and other sources involved in the tournament.
Because of that, the semifinals, which were contractually supposed to take place between January and March, have been delayed until at least April through June. Despite the issues, Rodriguez-Inoue was formally announced. Inoue (17-0, 15 KOs), the 25-year-old Japanese sensation and pound-for-pound-ranked three-division titlist, advanced to the semifinals on Oct. 10 in Yokohama, Japan, where he destroyed former world titleholder Juan Carlos Payano in just 70 seconds.
"My destiny is to win the prestigious (Muhammad) Ali Trophy and prove I am the best bantamweight in the world," Inoue said. "I cannot wait to box in the United Kingdom in front of their loud fans and I will show them a 'Monster' performance."
Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs), 26, of Puerto Rico, advanced to the semifinals on Oct. 20 in Orlando, Florida, where he won a split decision in his first defense against Australia's Jason Moloney in a back-and-forth battle.
"I have been waiting for this moment my entire life," Rodriguez said. "I always wanted to fight the best, and now I am fighting a boxer considered (one of) the best by the boxing reporters and fans. That's great motivation for me, my team and Puerto Rico. We got this. I am going to get the victory. Puerto Rico will shine in Scotland and I am confident of going all the way and take home the Ali Trophy."
Only one other semifinal has been scheduled so far, the cruiserweight bout between former world titleholder Mairis Briedis (25-1, 18 KOs), of Latvia, and interim titlist Krzysztof Glowacki (31-1, 19 KOs), of Poland. They are slated to fight on June 15 at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia, Briedis' hometown. No dates or sites have yet been announced for the bantamweight semifinal between Zolani Tete and Nonito Donaire, who are due to meet in a world title unification fight; the junior welterweight semifinal between world titleholder Kiryl Relikh and Regis Prograis; or the cruiserweight semifinal between former world titlist Yunier Dorticos and Andrew Tabiti.