SUPERFIGHTERS ANNOUNCED

11/05/06 - Alex Ramos

SUPERFIGHTERS ANNOUNCED

Eight elite heavyweights will collide on December 1 (December 2 at 11AM in Australia) for a $5 million first prize in the "Superfighter" tournament at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia. The field includes Chris Byrd, Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock, Oliver McCall, Jameel McCline, O'Neal Bell, Juan Carlos Gomez and Tye Fields. Should any fighter drop out, Sinan Samil Sam is set to step in. Brock is commited to fighting in this event, even though he's challenging IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on November 11. The format will be a one-night, high-intensity heavyweight elimination tournament consisting of four three-minute rounds with only the winner of each bout advancing to the next round. To win the $5 million, the winner will have to defeat three opponents in one day. Total prize money is $6.5 million.
Fighters will use 12-ounce gloves and the wins and losses in the event will not count on the fighters' official records. Open scoring will be used with scores announced at the end of each round. Instant replay will be used by officials to resolve any controversies. The PPV price is $49.95. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will provide expert analyst for the PPV telecast. Organizers plan to hold other "Superfighter" events in other weight divisions.

Champs line up for Dome boxing

October 17, 2006 - 2:00PM

Four past or present world champions have been named in the eight-man field for December's one-day Superfighter Heavyweight Boxing Tournament at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

The field includes former heavyweight world champions Chris Byrd, and Oliver McCall, former cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez and current unified cruiserweight title holder O'Neill Bell.

Rising heavyweight stars Calvin Brock and Samuel Peter, former world title contender Jameel McCline, and two-metre plus giant Tye Fields complete the field.

The elimination format for the tournament will see the winner come through three fights in a tournament comprised of seven bouts over four three-minute rounds.

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis says he thinks No.1 IBF contender Brock could start the favourite.

The winner of the event, which will be completed in four hours, will earn $US5 million ($A6.65 million) dollars.

A new scoring system will be in use for the competition with the emphasis on rewarding effective aggressive fighting.

The competition, which is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneur Stephen Duval, will be shown on pay television in Australia and also live in the United States .

The total prize pool is $US6.5 million ($A8.64 million).

Duval said he planned to stage Superfighter tournaments in four different divisions in 2007, and wants it to expand to eight divisions the following year.

AAP

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