Yunier Dorticos : All I look forward to is taking home the trophy with me this season

Yunier Dorticos (22-1, 21 KOs) promises fireworks in Season II of the World Boxing Super Series, and he vows to begin in ‘KO Doctor’ mode in the Cruiserweight Quarter-Final against Mateusz Masternak in Orlando, Florida on Saturday.

The Miami-based Cuban fighter is on a mission: He wants to convert a bitter KO defeat in last season’s semi-final to Murat Gassiev to being the man with the ‘Greatest Prize in Boxing’ in his hands.

“I am back to prove to the world and to the World Boxing Super Series what I am all about. Winning the Muhammad Ali Trophy will be one of the biggest achievements I will accomplish,” said Dorticos.

“I am extremely happy, excited and thankful to have been chosen once again for the second season of the WBSS. I have learned from my defeat in Season 1 and I am coming back stronger than ever. All I look forward to is taking home the trophy with me this season.”

‘The KO Doctor’ tasted his own medicine against Gassiev, but he is determined to come back and show boxing fans that he is still one of the biggest players in the 200 lb division.

“The defeat to Gassiev hurt, but when you get knocked down you get up again. You train harder and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Dorticos.

“Everyone that has seen me knows I’m an exciting price fighter with superb boxing skills and power in both of my hands, I leave it all in the ring for my fans.”

“My aggressive firework style it’s what my fans and boxing fans all over the world want to see.”

Dorticos has an impressive 91% KO ratio, and he expects to prescribe all his powers to improve the statistics when meeting Poland’s Mateusz Masternak (41-4, 28 KOs) October 20 at the CFE Arena in Orlando, Florida.

“When I look at Masternak, I already see a man with KO written in his face,” said Dorticos. “Believe me the knockout is coming. I am going to KO everyone in front of me in this season.”

The winner of Dorticos vs Masternak faces USA’s Andrew Tabiti who beat Russia’s Ruslan Fayfer unanimously on points in their quarter-final in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The second Ali Trophy quarter-final bout of the huge night of boxing October 20 at the CFE Arena, Orlando, Fl., USA is an IBF World Bantamweight Championship clash between Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodriguez and Australia’s Jason Moloney.

Tickets for the WBSS Quarter-Finals – Rodriguez vs Moloney & Dorticos vs Masternak – starting from $30 (plus fees) are on sale at TicketMaster.com.

Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals:

1. October 7th, Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Naoya Inoue (Japan) beat Juan Carlos Payano (Dominican Republic) – KO 1:10 of the first round
WBA ‘Regular’ Bantamweight Championship
&
Kiryl Relikh (Belarus) beat Eduard Troyanovsky (Russia) – UD 115-113 (x3)
WBA Super-Lightweight Championship

2. October 13th, Ekaterinburg Expo, Ekaterinburg, Russia – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Zolani Tete (South Africa) vs Mikhail Aloyan (Russia) – UD 114-111, 114-111 & 114-11
WBO Bantamweight World Championship
&
Andrew Tabiti (USA) vs Ruslan Fayfer (Russia) – UD 116-11, 115-112 & 114-11
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final

3. October 20th, CFE Arena, Orlando, USA – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Jason Moloney (Australia)
IBF Bantamweight Championship
&
Yunier Dorticos (Cuba) vs. Mateusz Masternak (Poland).
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final
TICKETS: From $30 (plus fees) here: TicketMaster.com

4. October 27th, U.N.O. Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, USA – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Regis Prograis (United States) vs. Terry Flanagan (England)
WBC Super-Lightweight Diamond Title
&
Ivan Baranchyk (Belarus) vs Anthony Yigit (Sweden)
IBF Super-Lightweight Championship
TICKETS: From $30 (plus fees) here: TicketMaster.com

5. November 3rd, SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Ryan Burnett (Northern Ireland) vs. Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
WBA ‘Unified’ Bantamweight Championship & WBC Bantamweight Diamond Title
&
Josh Taylor (Scotland) vs. Ryan Martin (United States)
WBC Super-Lightweight Silver Title
TICKETS: From £35 (plus fees) here: thessehydro.com

6. November 10th, UIC Pavilion in Chicago, USA – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Mairis Briedis vs. Noel Mikaelian
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final
&
Krzysztof Glowacki vs. Maksim Vlasov
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final
TICKETS: From $30 (plus fees) here: TicketMaster.com (On sale: Mon 1 Oct)

Season II divisions and Ali Trophy quarter-final match-ups:

Bantamweight:
Ryan Burnett (Northern Ireland) vs. Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
WBA ‘Unified’ World Championship and WBC Diamond Title

Zolani Tete (South Africa) vs. Mikhail Aloyan (Russia) – Tete W UD
WBO World Championship

Naoya Inoue (Japan) vs. Juan Carlos Payano (Dominican Republic) – Inoue W KO1
WBA ‘Regular’ World Championship

Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Jason Moloney (Australia)
IBF World Championship

Super-Lightweight:
Regis Prograis (United States) vs. Terry Flanagan (England)
WBC Diamond Title

Josh Taylor (Scotland) vs. Ryan Martin (United States)
WBC Silver Title

Kiryl Relikh (Belarus) vs. Eduard Troyanovsky (Russia) – Relikh W UD12
WBA World Championship

Ivan Baranchyk (Belarus) vs. Anthony Yigit (Sweden)
IBF World Championship

Cruiserweight:
Mairis Briedis (Latvia) vs. Noel Mikaelian (Germany)

Yunier Dorticos (Cuba) vs. Mateusz Masternak (Poland)

Krzysztof Glowacki (Poland) vs. Maksim Vlasov (Russia)

Ruslan Fayfer (Russia) vs. Andrew Tabiti (United States) – Tabiti W UD
IBF Eliminator