The eight-man competitions, where the winner walks away with not only the glory, but a stack of cash, the Muhammad Ali Trophy and a bag full of world title belts, is currently gaining headway in the column inches alongside Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor and Gennady Golovkin v Canelo Alvarez.
Both the 168 and 200 pound offerings are packed full of the best talent in both weight classes and boy could the top division do with similar for what is turning out to be something of a mess.
Anthony Joshua now has two mandatory challengers, Deontay Wilder has one (whom he’s already fought and beaten) whilst the WBA have approved a second world title fight for a ‘regular’ strap featuring two unheralded contenders.
A Super Series featuring Joshua, Wilder, their mandatories Luis Ortiz, Kubrat Pulev and Bermane Stiverne, along with the WBA regulars Alexander Ustinov and Fres Oquendo would be seven of eight names to immediately be put forward.
That would leave one spot left, potentially for the winner of Joseph Parker v Hughie Fury, meaning all the belts would be on the line in what would be the greatest spectacle the WBSS could muster.
Promoter Kalle Sauerland did reveal to WBN over the weekend that he’s looking at a heavyweight format for the next couple of years but didn’t rule out another tournament being made in 2017.
“We’ll be watching what’s going on in the boxing world and see what weight classes work feasible again. I don’t rule out another one happening this year, it could be that good. It’s unlikely but nothings impossible. Let’s enjoy this lot first,” Kalle exclusively told World Boxing News.
Asked what weight classes were on his wish list, he confirmed heavyweight was one of them.
“I love the middleweights and of course the heavyweights. That’s the ultimate aim with the Muhammed Ali trophy to get the heavyweights involved in the next couple of years.”
With Ustinov v Oquendo ready to be announced, that could rule those two out, but surely Joshua and Wilder would consider entering alongside their respective number one contenders in order to keep their titles and potentially finish 2018 with all the marbles.
Should two spots be left open, there could then be wildcards dealt out to a pair from Tony Bellew, David Haye, Lucas Browne, Alexander Povetkin, Dillian Whyte and Jarrell Miller.
Let’s hope something can be done to give the supporters even more to look forward to in the coming months and bring boxing’s biggest hitters together to finally find out once and for all who is the king of the heavyweights.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
