By David Finger

For Hungarian contender Irme Szello and Sherman based cruiserweight Firat Arslan, the World Boxing Super Series has proved to be a bit of a bitter pill to swallow after they were again shut out of a potential world title fight. WBO Junior Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who was slated to fight #1 ranked Tony Bellew, and there was little question that a victory could result in him moving up to the heavyweight division. However, an email request for Chris Meyer of the World Boxing Super Series proved problematic for the two European fighters. Meyer proposed moving the #5 ranked Maxim Vlasov to #1 or #2 and requesting that the WBO approve the Upcoming tournament fight between Vlsov and #2 ranked Krzysztof Glowacki be for the Interim title. It was a proposal that drew fierce opposition from Erik Ceylon of ECB Boxing, who was there to represent #3 ranked Firat Arslan.

“Why not give Arslan the mandatory?” Arslan asked.

His position was supported by WBO Vice President of Europe Istvan Kovacs.

“Both of these guys (#3 ranked Arslan and #4 ranked Imre Szello) have been standing in line for a while,” Kovacs said. “Both of them guys are very old. If you are talking of Vlasov I think he is less deserving then these other two guys.”

However, President Valcarcel stressed that the WBO continues to support unification fights and tournaments like the WBSS.

“The unification supersedes the mandatory,” Valcarcel said.

In the end the board voted in favor of the request by Meyer in classifying the Vlasov-Glowacki fight as a fight for the interim title. Kovacs did hold his ground however and voted against the proposal.