Josh Taylor's clash with IBF champion Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow is live on Sky Sports
Monday 13 May 2019 11:36, UK
The World Boxing Super Series semi-finals, including Josh Taylor's first world title fight against Ivan Baranchyk, will be shown live on Sky Sports.
An exciting schedule for the WBSS starts this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, as Nonito Donaire battles Zolani Tete with the WBA and WBO bantamweight belts at stake, while Regis Prograis also challenges Kiryl Relikh for the WBA super-lightweight title in Louisiana.
Taylor then attempts to become Scotland's latest world champion when he takes on IBF champion Baranchyk in another super-lightweight semi-final at the SSE Hydro on May 18, live on Sky Sports.
Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue can also showcase his explosive power when he is pitted against Emmanuel Rodriguez for the IBF and WBA 'regular' bantamweight belts on the same Glasgow bill.
The cruiserweight semis will be staged in Latvia on June 15, live on Sky Sports, as former world champions Mairis Briedis and Krzysztof Glowacki collide in the last four, and ex-WBA champion Yunier Dorticos faces unbeaten America Andrew Tabiti for a place in the final.
Adam Smith, head of Sky Sports Boxing, said: "I've admired the talent of Josh Taylor for a while and I'll look forward to another red-hot atmosphere in Glasgow as Taylor bids to become the latest in a line of proud Scottish world champions.
"It's wonderful to add The World Boxing Super Series semi-finals to our stacked Sky Sports schedule for the summer.
"The fearsome Naoya Inoue and four-weight champion Nonito Donaire also bring star quality to a tournament featuring world title fights, former champions, and unbeaten contenders, starting this Saturday on Sky Sports."
"I'm delighted to bring these fight nights to Sky Sports and particularly pleased to air the big May 18 card from Glasgow," said Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing Managing Director. "It's a massive chance for Josh Taylor to become world champion and the fight between pound-for-pound star Inoue and Rodriguez is a cracker.
"It completes a huge May with action every weekend. We begin with the middleweight unification between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs on May 4, then we return to Nottingham on May 10 for the latest instalment of the JD NXTGEN series.
"May 18 in Glasgow followed by the WBC world heavyweight title clash between Deontay Wilder and Dominic Breazeale from New York, and then on May 25 the undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Uysk makes his heavyweight debut against Carlos Takam in the States.
"This builds us into the US debut of Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden on June 1 - what a schedule!"
"The WBSS is delighted to be working with Sky Sports and Matchroom Boxing to bring our sensational semi-finals to as many UK fans as possible," said Kalle Sauerland, Chief Boxing Officer of Comosa, the organiser of World Boxing Super Series.
"Boxing fans can look forward to colossal nights of boxing. Supreme athletes in the bantamweight, super-lightweight and cruiserweight divisions are putting everything on the line for a place in the finals of the WBSS where the Ali Trophy awaits the winners."
