The last of the opening bouts of the terrific cruiser weight super series was brought to a swift end Saturday night following Murat Gassiev’s agonizing 3rd round stoppage of Krzysztof Woldarczyk. The Russian folded Woldarczyk in half with a vicious left to the ribs causing even the sternest of spectators to wince and subsequently sent a deadly warning to his rivals. The favourites have all progressed and will clash with each other in 2018, continuing the very welcome trend of 2017, a year that will live long in the memory.

All remaining combatants have made their mark as well as their statements and the tournament’s intrigue will only increase as it’s story unfolds. In a division that is largely by-passed by the mainstream, 4 (1 regular) unbeaten world champions will risk everything to gain everything and shine a light on a thriving weight class that often goes ignored. Until then, we can only speculate over it’s outcome and for now the early demonstrations gives us a chance to reflect on what each man is bringing to the next round. This show is just getting started.

Oleksandr Usyk: the rightful favourite.

The bookies pick, the Ukrainian swarmed a tough, albeit ageing former champion in Marco Huck to throw down the gauntlet to his rivals. The fight went as most had predicted and gives substance to the early claims as the tournament’s, and one of the worlds’ best fighters. Schooled of the highest order, Usyk enhanced his growing reputation as the full package with a 10th round stoppage. A slick mover capable of cutting the ring, boxing off the back foot, counter and combination punching, the unbeaten WBO champion has had a faultless 4 years as a prize fighter. A brave Huck had no answers to such an arsenal and inevitably succumbed to Usyk’s relentless persistence. Boasting an accomplished style with shades of compatriot Vasyl Lomachenko, the former Olympic gold medalist (heavyweight) has maintained his position as the tournament’s favourite. But although Huck was once a star of the division, tougher tests lay ahead.

Mairis Briedis: efficient monotony.

In what was by far the most disappointing of showings, Latvia’s first world champion is the only semi-finalist to go 12 rounds in the quarters. A performance difficult to assess, Briedis bent the rules to nullify former heavyweight Mike Perez and grind out an uneventful UD. But although the action failed to ignite even the slightest remnant of a spark, excitement is not always a priority in a high stakes contest for an elite prizefighter. And whether you liked (how!?) or disliked what he showcased, Briedis is an elite fighter. Hard, accurate punches found the mark as much as was needed and the spoiler tactics, that as unpopular as they may be for fans, are far from uncommon for fighters. It wasn’t pretty but it worked and Briedis presents a puzzle that will be difficult for anyone to solve. With 18 KO’s from 23 victories, the WBA champion may not have revealed everything that he has to offer. From an entertainment perspective, lets hope he hasn’t.

Yunier Dorticos: the dark horse.

Despite holding the WBA (regular) title, as well as an unblemished record with a staggering 21 KO’s from 22 victories, Yunier Dorticos was, and arguably still is an unknown entity. He went toe to toe with Russian banger Dmitry Kudryashov in an old fashioned western shootout and came out on top. Kudryashov, whose own growing reputation as one of the hardest hitters on the planet was hammered to the canvas sporting an expression that told a thousand words. A strong amateur background as is expected for any Cuban fighter blessed with heavy hands is a frightening adversary. Dorticos could well be the tournament’s dark horse.

Murat Gassiev: Babayka (the boogeyman).

What’s not to like? This hulking brute seeks and destroys with short, compact punches capable of inflicting maximum damage at any moment. Unbeaten in 25 with 18 KO’s, Gassiev’s menacing demeanor is the perfect fit as Russia’s elite cruiser. The IBF champion practically punched a hole through the ageing Woldarczyk Saturday night and brings with him a level of drama that is impossible not to get excited about. Standing just shy of 6ft’4, Gassiev’s physicality is more imposing than any of the other 3 and at just 24 years of age (how on earth is this man 24!?) the Russian banger is far from his prime. A mouth watering contest with Dorticos lays ahead, but if the Cuban is the tournament’s dark horse, Gassiev is an entirely different monster.

In a year full of tremendous match making, this unique cruiser weight super series is dragging its unheralded stars out of the shadows and into the limelight. Quite possibly the best thing to happen to the division for decades, the tournament could well be on it’s way to eclipse it’s super middleweight counterpart as well as it’s earlier predecessor. Lets hope so.