Ryan Burnett confirmed for bantamweight World Boxing Super Series

Ryan Burnett has been confirmed as one of three world champions in the bantamweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series.

The WBA champion will be joined in the eight-fighter competition by South African Zolani Tete and Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico, both highly-rated and respectively the WBO and IBF titlists.

Naoya Inoue of Japan will also be involved should he first defeat Jamie McDonnell – who could also yet participate – when they fight on May 25, but for the 25-year-old Burnett the WBSS represents both the most lucrative and challenging opportunity of his promising career.

The competition’s draw will take place in July, and Press Association Sport understands Burnett’s first fight is likely to be in his home city of Belfast in September.

“I have always wanted to unify the world titles against the best opposition out there,” Burnett said.

“I proved this in my last three fights, and now the WBSS allows me to continue my dream against the other champions in the bantamweight division.”

“Competition at the highest level is any fighter’s dream,” added his trainer and manager Adam Booth. “The WBSS is providing this at bantamweight; Ryan’s ready to face all champions and challengers.”

Discussing the second season of the WBSS – the finals of the super-middleweight and cruiserweight divisions are scheduled for this summer – competition promoter Kalle Sauerland revealed Burnett could yet also end up fighting in the US.

The involvement of Matchroom’s Burnett alongside Tete, who is promoted by Frank Warren, means the two are in contention to fight despite their promoters’ bitter rivalry, which previously would have made them highly unlikely to meet.

“We’re very much going towards America as well,” Sauerland told Press Association Sport of the location for their coming schedule. “(Matchroom and Warren) didn’t really mention each other.

“There’s pride involved, but both sides wanted to fight each other. It’s a draw system and they’ll obviously both be seeded, so they won’t be fighting in the first round.”