THOUGH the World Boxing Super Series includes some of the world’s best super-middleweights and cruiserweights, there is only one American involved.
Unbeaten Saint Paul, Minnesota native Rob Brant has moved up from middleweight to enter the 168lb tournament, while there are no Americans in the cruiserweight class.
Promoter Richard Schaefer, who is working alongside Kalle and Nisse Sauerland to run the tournament, believes that is mainly down to the weight classes involved, but also due to a shift in focus away from America in the sport.
“Obviously it depends on the weight classes and the fighters. Some have said there aren’t many Americans, but that’s really a reflection of the weight classes and a reflection of where the sport stands at the moment,” he told Boxing News.
“Since I left Golden Boy [Promotions] in the summer of 2014 the sport has become much more global. The US, which was always the dominant market, is not as dominant now and I think the UK is more dominant. We see that on the pay-per-view numbers, the gate numbers, and the way the UK fight fans embrace the sport.”
American super-middleweights Andre and Anthony Dirrell are not included in the tournament, and while they are both highly-ranked Schaefer felt no need to doggedly pursue them. They are also both advised by Al Haymon, who has no fighters involved in the Super Series.
“In these two weight classes you don’t really have Americans,” Schaefer continued.
“You have the Dirrells at super-middleweight, but that’s it. If you go down the top 30 cruiserweights in the world you probably won’t have a single American. Are we going to invite somebody in just because he’s American? No, we want the best and that’s it.”
