Naoya Inoue agrees to join WBSS tournament

Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue (15-0, 13 KOs) is currently scheduled to a face Jamie McDonnell on May 25 as he steps up in weight to vie for the WBA bantamweight title. But Kalle Sauerland, World Boxing Super Series organizer, has confirmed to Sky Sports that Inoue has also agreed in principle to join his bantamweight tournament, set to begin this September.

That’s all contingent on him beating McDonnell, though.

Assuming Inoue does win, he would join the likes of Zolani Tete, Ryan Burnett, and Emmanuel Rodriguez who have also agreed to participate in the 8-man tourney.

“It’s great to kick things off with three champions already signed up,” Sauerland exclusively told Sky Sports, “The overall concept of the product is to have the best against the best, so we are in a great place.

”McDonnell versus Inoue is a cracking fight and the winner is a natural to go in this tournament.

“There’s certainly a space in the tournament for the winner and we’re very close with Inoue. We’ve agreed terms with him, so Inoue is agreed.”

Sauerland also mentioned that he’ll engage McDonnell in discussing the possibility of him entering the tournament — after his fight with Inoue — but expressed this confidence that the winner of Inoue-McDonnell will in fact be in the group.