The Uzbek Tigers once again showed their fledgling World Series of Boxing prowess with a comprehensive win over Azerbaijan Baku Fires on Saturday night. The uncompromising manner of the 5-0 whitewash against a strong Azeri side, in what was only the team’s fifth WSB match together, sent out a clear message to the rest of the competition as the Tigers confirmed their place in the Season VI play-offs with a match to go.
The opening light flyweight bout saw Uzbek Tigers’ newcomer Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov take on Baku Fires’ Rasul Saliev, and it was the visiting boxer who began the more aggressively, with Mirzakhmedov content to bide his time and wait for counter-attacking opportunities. It all came together for the young Uzbek as he found his range in the third round, before dominating the final throes of the bout with the crowd behind him and easing to an emphatic points win.
Tigers’ bantamweight Abdulkhay Sharakhmatov maintained his unbeaten record this season with an equally impressive win over Baku Fires’ Yashar Magomedov, the swift 19 year-old delivering some superb combinations that Magomedov had no answer to.
At 2-0 up, Uzbekistan’s newly crowned National Champion Fazliddin Meliboev then narrowly edged a split decision against Zaur Abdullayev to seal the match. A brilliant contest saw Abdullayev start well before Meliboev took the advantage with a superb third round, and despite the Azeri taking the fifth, the Tigers’ new star had already done enough to guarantee his team the win.
The hosts’ 23-year-old middleweight Ulugbek Khakberdiev had opened his WSB campaign with a brilliant win over Puerto Rico Hurricanes’ Raul Sanchez in Week 2, but Baku Fires’ international newcomer Levani Lukhutashvili was too inexperienced to trouble his opponent, and the almost inevitable knockout came in the third round after a series of big uppercuts to the delight of the crowd.
Sardorbek Begaliev replaced Mirzobek Khasanov in the Tigers team and had a debut to remember against Azerbaijan Baku Fires’ 28-year-old Haji Murtuzaliyev, delivering a unanimous points win that sealed the 5-0 victory in front of his home fans. The Tigers now face Astana Arlans Kazakhstan in an intriguing Group D finale on 2 April.
The Uzbek Tigers have already made quite an impact on their first WSB season, winning three of their first four matches and heading up Group D with just two to go. Saturday night’s rematch against Azerbaijan Baku Fires in the capital of Tashkent gives the Tigers a chance to extend their lead even further as they seek to avenge their Week 4 defeat and put one foot in the play-offs.
The hosts have called upon 22-year-old light flyweight Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov for his first WSB outing, and he will get proceedings underway against another newcomer, Baku Fires’ Rasul Saliev.
Tigers’ bantamweight talent Abdulkhay Sharakhmatov has been in superb form so far this season, controlling his Week 2 bout against Puerto Rico’s Edgardo Rolon and going on to defeat Kazakhstan’s two-time WSB Team Champion Meirbolat Toitov. Sharakhmatov now faces Yashar Magomedov, who has also beaten Rolon this year and will provide stiff opposition.
The third bout of the night sees one of the world’s most promising light welterweights, Uzbekistan National Champion Fazliddin Meliboev going for a third straight win of the season against Baku Fires’ Zaur Abdullayev, whose strength and experience should provide a serious test for the top-ranked Uzbek.
Tigers’ 23-year-old middleweight Ulugbek Khakberdiev opened his WSB campaign with a brilliant win over Puerto Rico Hurricanes’ Raul Sanchez in Week 2, and he will be hoping to repeat that result against international newcomer Levani Lukhutashvili. Finally on Saturday, home heavyweight Sardorbek Begaliev makes his WSB debut against the more experienced Haji Murtuzaliyev.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan made it two wins from two this season against rivals Azerbaijan Baku Fires on Friday night to stay hot on the heels of Group D leaders Uzbek Tigers. Both teams still have to face the new franchise one more time in what is becoming a thrilling race for the play-off places.
Baku Fires’ Nasraddin Mammadov got off to a strong start in the evening’s opening bout against Kazhakstan’s National Lightweight Champion Zakir Safiullin, but the Arlans star counter-attacked brilliantly as the bout wore on, and was untouchable in the final two rounds as he powered to a comfortable points win to give the visitors the early advantage.
Magomed Ibiyev’s move up to flyweight got off to the perfect start in a Week 4 win over Uzbek Tigers Abrorjon Kodirov, but the Arlans’ experienced Asian Champion Olzhas Sattibayev proved an altogether different challenge. The 24-year-old Azeri landed some solid punches in the first round but Sattibayev’s determined approach dictated the action as he secured his side’s second convincing points win of the night.
At 2-0 down, the Azeri welterweight Tamerlan Abdullayev then made a name for himself on debut against Kazakhstan’s Aslanbek Shymbergenov. In the bout of the day, Abdullayev’s superb final round proved to be decisive and the hosts’ dream of a turnaround was alive.
The hope was short-lived, however, as Astana Arlans’ Nurdaulet Zharmanov overcame Baku Fires’ Belarusian boxer Mikhail Dauhaliavets to win by TKO in the second round of their light heavyweight and earn the visitors a crucial away win.
The final bout of the night saw Azerbaijan Baku Fires’ 26-year-old WSB star Arslanbek Makhmudov put in a brilliant performance against Kazakhstan’s Nurzhan Bekzatov. Makhmudov controlled their super heavyweight bout from the outset but Bekzatov stayed in the battle until the final round, when the Arlans man was surprised by a quick uppercut and the referee had no choice but to award the Fires’ star a win by TKO.
A tough start to the new season against reigning champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan has not dampened Azerbaijan Baku Fires hopes for a successful campaign this year, and the team bounced back to defeat a strong Uzbek Tigers two weeks ago in Baku. On Friday night, the city will host a Puerto Rico Hurricanes side hoping that their two new European recruits will inspire them to their first points of Season VI.
Baku Fires’ light flyweight Rasul Saliev out-boxed a Puerto Rican opponent in Season V, and will be looking to do so once again in the evening’s opening bout against 20-year-old Anthony Ortiz. After taking Uzbek Tigers star Hasanboy Dusmatov all the way in Week 2, Ortiz will himself be confident of causing an upset and getting the Hurricanes off to a winning start.
Bantamweight Iarash Magomedov will be hoping to register his first ever WSB victory when he goes up against 19-year-old Edgardo Rolon, and then the light welterweight Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev, the only member of the Baku Fires to win against Astana Arlans, will try to make it two wins from two this season against Jean Carlos Rivera, who was undefeated in his three WSB contests in 2015.
Azerbaijan’s National Middleweight Champion Mikalai Vesialou goes out in the fourth bout against the Hurricanes’ French draft pick Christian Mbilli Assomo, before the heavyweights Abdulkadir Abdullayev and Roman Fress round off the action. Abdullayev landed the European Games gold medal in Baku last year, and will face the visitors’ German draft pick Ross in what could be the deciding bout of the night.
Defending World Series of Boxing champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan began the defence of their title in style on Friday night, defeating Azerbaijan Baku Fires 4-1 in the Kazakh city of Karaganda.
Light flyweight star Temirtas Zhussupov got the hosts off to a strong start against WSB debutant Javid Dadashov in the evening’s opening bout. The 28 year-old was faster than his young opponent, never letting up his intensity until the final bell, and a unanimous decision from the judges gave Arlans the lead.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan kick off WSB title defence against Azerbaijan Baku Fires in Karagandy
Their two-time WSB champion Meirbolat Toitov then doubled the advantage, narrowly beating the aggressive Iarash Magomedov in a gripping encounter. The 2-0 lead took the pressure off Arlans’ own debutant Yerkin Mukhametzhan, in for the injured Vassiliy Levit, up against the strong southpaw Haji Murtazaliyev. After a nervy start, Mukhametzhan landed a dangerous body blow in the third round and began to grow in stature, taking the judges’ decision and securing the Arlans their first win of Season VI.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s team captain Samat Bashenov unfortunately could not enter the line up, with Askhat Ualikhanov deputising against Baku Fires’ London 2012 Olympian you Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev. The Azeri proved the stronger boxer over five rounds, notching the Fires’ an important first victory of the new season against the reigning champions.
Kazakhstan controlled the final bout of the match to seal a comfortable victory, with National Champion Meirim Nursultanov proving exactly why he is going to be one to watch this year, defeating Baku Fires’ Georgian boxer Badri Khardzhiani in emphatic fashion to give the Arlans a precious 4-1 win over their great rivals.
Saturday night sees last season’s World Series of Boxing champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan begin their journey towards what would be an unprecedented title defence with a tough home tie against Azerbaijan Baku Fires. The two giants of WSB will go toe-to-toe in the Kazakh city of Karagandy in the first match of Group D.
The Arlans are again the team to beat after finishing Season V undefeated, but Baku Fires won’t shy away from the challenge following a strong campaign of their own that included ten wins in fourteen Group B matches.
Kazakhstan’s light flyweight star Temirtas Zhussupov was peerless last season, and the 2013 ASBC gold medallist will have the crowd behind him for the evening’s opening bout against Baku Fires’ upcoming 20 year-old talent Javid Dadashov. The Azeri put himself on the map last year defeating EUBC Champion Salman Alizada at the Great Silk Way Tournament in Baku, and will need to be at his very best once again to overcome Zhussupov.
Arlans’ bantamweight Meirbolat Toitov, heavily involved in both the home side’s championship-winning seasons, meets Iarash Magomedov, while Askhat Ualikhanov will have an added incentive to overcome Azerbaijan’s London 2012 Olympian Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev following his defeat at his hands in Season V.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan kick off WSB title defence against Azerbaijan Baku Fires in Karagandy
Kazakhstan National Champion Meirim Nursultanov faces Baku Fires’ Georgian boxer Badri Khardzhiani in the evening’s middleweight contest, before the super heavyweights take to the ring to round off the match. The home side won’t be able to count on the talismanic Vassiliy Levit, with last season’s hero replaced by 21 year-old WSB debutant Yerkin Mukhametzhan. The youngster will need to keep his cool against Baku Fires’ Russian-descent southpaw Haji Murtazaliyev in what could be the deciding bout of the match.
World Series of Boxing Group Draw has set the stage for the upcoming Season VI, as current Champions Astana Arlans face Azerbaijan Baku Fires, Puerto Rico Hurricanes and Uzbekistan team. Season V runners-up Cuba Domadores are facing a varied collection of opponents including Algeria Desert Hawks, Ukraine Otamans and China Dragons.
AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, who opened the Draw, said: “Season VI will be an extraordinary competition as we will be able to witness 16 truly amazing and legendary teams go head to head for the honour to compete in WSB Finals”.
He added: “I am confident that all teams will offer a magnificent spectacle and that this will be one of the best boxing seasons our fans have ever seen”.
The 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four teams with the top seed in each group occupied by Season V semi-finalists:
Group A: Cuba Domadores, Algeria Desert Hawks, Ukraine Otamans, China Dragons
Group B: Mexico Guerreros, USA Knockouts, Morocco Atlas Lions, British Lionhearts
Group C: Russian Boxing Team, Rafako Hussars Poland, Argentina Condors, Caciques de Venezuela
Group D: Astana Arlans Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Team, Azerbaijan Baku Fires, Puerto Rico Hurricanes.
Followign the Draw the General Manager of Cuba Domadores Alberto Puig de la Barca said: “All the teams are very strong this year. All the franchises will do a god job and it will not be easy to beat any of them. We have been matched against three very good teams and we will have to plan well. The format of Season VI is really good with four groups and less matches, which will allow the boxers to be in a perfect shape throughout the whole Season”.
Two teams from each group will progress further and will contest play-offs to determine the last four and ultimately two finalist teams to battle it out in the World Series of Boxing Team Finals.
The gloves are on for World Series of Boxing teams, who will gather in Vargas, Venezuela on 14 August for the official Season VI Group Draw. 16 teams will face each other in four groups of four teams for the coveted WSB Trophy.
“World Series of Boxing is the home for the world’s greatest boxers, including future and past Olympic and World Champions. In Season VI the boxers, who have already won the quota for Rio 2016 and those, who will contest their chance for the Olympic ticket will face each other in a series of remarkable matches. It will truly be the battle of the best”, said AIBA Executive Director and CEO of the World Series of Boxing Karim Bouzidi.
“I would also like to welcome newcomers Uzbekistan, whose arrival to WSB demonstrates the competition’s global appeal to a vast audience all over the world”, he added.
According to World Series of Boxing Draw procedure, Astana Arlans Kazakhstan, Cuba Domadores, Mexico Guerreros and Russian Boxing Team will be seeded as Season V semi-finalists. The rest of the teams will be placed each based on the team ranking position in the Regular Season V of the World Series of Boxing.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan WSB Season V Champions
“It is a huge honour to host Season VI World Series of Boxing Group Draw in Vargas. Caciques Venezuela have been competing in WSB for the first time last season and we are hoping to progress even further this time and face the world’s best boxing teams”, said General Manager of Caciques Venezuela Fran Lopez.
The following 16 teams will be drawn into four groups (A-D) of four teams each with the top seed in each group occupied by Season V semi-finalists:
Pot 1:
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan
Cuba Domadores
Mexico Guerreros
Russia Boxing Team
Pot 2:
Ukraine Otamans
Azerbaijan Baku Fires
Venezuela Caciques
Morocco Atlas Lions
Pot 3:
USA Knockouts
Puerto Rico Hurricanes
Rafako Hussars Poland
China Dragons
Pot 4:
British Lionhearts
Algeria Desert Hawks
Argentina Condors
Uzbekistan Team
Two teams from each group will progress further and will contest play-offs to determine the last four and ultimately two finalist teams to battle it out in the World Series of Boxing Team Finals.
The Draw will also determine the weight categories for tiebreaker bouts for the play-off stage of Season VI of the World Series of Boxing.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan qualified for their third World Series of Boxing (WSB) Final by defeating Russian Boxing Team 4-1 in the second leg of their semi-final, which gave them an overall 9-1 victory on aggregate.
Despite the 4-1 result, the second leg was a much closer event than the first night of action as Russia’s brave fighters pushed the Kazakh athletes throughout each match.
Kazakhstan will now meet defending Champions Cuba Domadores in the most eagerly anticipated WSB Final of all time.
4-1 Flyweight (52 kg) Olzhas Sattibayev confirmed Kazakhstan’s qualification when he defeated Russia’s 1-2 Karen Arutiunian in the first match of the evening.
Temirtas Zhussupov (Astana Arlans Kazakhstan)
Backed by a tremendously loud and supportive crowd, Sattibayev controlled the first three rounds with his busy style making life difficult for his Russian rival.
Arutiunian improved in the latter stages of the contest as he began to use a wider range of punches, but his late rally was not enough, and Sattibayev earned a unanimous decision victory.
Kazak Lightweight (60 kg) Zakir Safiullin then doubled the lead for his team against Artur Subkhankulov, but he was forced to work hard for his success in every second of their bout.
This was an energetic contest which saw both boxers throw many punches, but it was Safiullin whose skills impressed a little more in the first two rounds.
Subkhankulov began round three with more intent, and continually pressed forward against a more defensive Safiullin which impressed the judges in the frame.
Channelling the success of his teammates over the course of this season, the Kazakh star averted the third round crisis, and was awarded the bout by one round on all three scorecards.
Daniyar Yeleussinov (Astana Arlans Kazakhstan)
Another close match was found at Welterweight (69 kg) where 2013 AIBA World Champion Daniyar Yeleussinov edged a narrow split decision win over Russian debutant Iagub Nuriev.
Although he was making his first appearance of the season, Nuriev was confident against his decorated opponent, and reacted well to losing the first two rounds by staging an incredible comeback as the five round distance suited his style.
Yeleussinov tired at the beginning of the fourth round, and was forced into a brawl with Nuriev, with the World Champion unable to control the Russian mauler in the fifth round either.
Nuriev was relentless in his attacks and he attempted to rough up Yeleussinov to force a stoppage that would give him one of the most surprising results in WSB history.
It was not to be however, as Yeleussinov held on to take the match to the scorecards, where two judges awarded him the contest by one round, with Nuriev winning on the third scorecard.
This was one of the most entertaining WSB matches of all time, and Nuriev is a boxer to watch next season.
Russia claimed their lone victory in the semi-final at Light heavyweight (81 kg) when 2-0 Eduard Yakushev outpointed Nurdaulet Zharmanov.
Yakushev lost the first round as he struggled to deal with the movement of Zharmanov, but he reacted well to the task in hand, and won all of the four remaining rounds with quick punches and rugged strength.
Super heavyweight (91+ kg) Ivan Dychko sealed the 4-1 victory for Astana Arlans, and won his opening bout of the season as he stopped Russia’s Ruslan Shamalov.
Dychko’s power was evident in the first round, and he began the second frame impressively, with a huge right hand sending Shamalov down the canvas.
The Russian athlete was brave in returning to his feet, but the referee was forced to stop the contest as he was in no position to continue.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan has now won 15 of their 16 matches this season, and will be full of confidence heading into their Final with Cuba Domadores.
Results: Astana Arlans Kazakhstan vs Russian Boxing Team Leg 1
Amazing Astana Arlans Kazakhstan dominate Russian Boxing Team in semi-final first leg
A powerful first leg performance from Astana Arlans Kazakhstan resulted in a 5-0 victory over Russian Boxing Team.
This result means that Russia need to win every match of tomorrow’s second leg, including a tie-breaker bout to overhaul Astana Arlans and qualify for the WSB Final.
Kazakhstan began the fixture strongly as their lower weight class boxers took them into an early lead, and their grip tightened as the matches progressed.
3-1 Light flyweight (49 kg) Temirtas Zhussupov gave Kazakhstan a perfect start as he won every round against 1-1 Vadim Kudriakov in the opening match.
Zhussupov was the busier boxer throughout the contest, and managed to nullify the attacks of Kudriako while frequently choosing the right moment to launch his own punches.
Russian Boxing Team vs Italia Thunder
2013 AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Kairat Yeraliyev doubled Kazakhstan’s lead at Bantamweight (56 kg) when he outpointed Russia’s 1-1 Andranik Grigorian.
After Yeraliyev dominated the first three rounds, his Russian Rival finished strongly, but because of his poor start he could not make up the rounds difference.
Kazakh Light welterweight (64 kg) Samat Bashenov achieved his sixth win of the season, and put his Franchise into an unassailable lead in the third match, but was made to work very hard for his win by Russia’s 23-year-old Avak Uzlian.
All three judges awarded the first round to Uzlian who was busier and more effective in the first three minutes, before Bashenov took the next three rounds as his WSB experience became apparent.
Uzlian never gave up however, and dominated the last round, but Bashenov had impressed enough to secure the victory by unanimous decision 49-46, and 48-47 on two scorecards.
6-0 Middleweight (75 kg) Meiirim Nursultanov enjoyed a more comfortable triumph against Russian debutant Sukhrob Sidikov, as he dropped just one round on a single scorecard to make it 4-0 on the night for Kazakhstan.
Few boxers are as entertaining to watch in the ring as Nursultanov, and he delighted the home crowd with a very accomplished performance.
In the last match of the first leg, number one ranked Heavyweight (91 kg) Vassiliy Levit dominated Russia’s Vitaly Kudukhov to seal the whitewash for his team.
Levit has blown away the majority of his opponents this season, and his eighth success of Season V was no different.
The first three rounds saw Levit utilise power shots from both hands, before Kudukhov was disqualified midway through the fourth round.
This significant win means that Russia now need a miracle tomorrow night if they are to stage one of the most incredible comebacks in the history of this competition.
Russian Boxing Team 5 – 0 Italia Thunder
Preview: Astana Arlans Kazakhstan vs Russian Boxing Team Leg 2
Russian Boxing Team need a perfect night against Astana Arlans Kazakhstan
to reach WSB Final
After Astana Arlans Kazakhstan earned a 5-0 victory in the first leg of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) semi-finals, Russian Boxing Team begin the second leg knowing that they have to win all five bouts in this match to give themselves any chance of overturning the deficit.
Kazakhstan require just one victory to take them through to the biggest WSB Final of all time against defending Champions Cuba Domadores.
National Tennis Centre, Astana is the venue for this semi-final clash, where on Sunday 24th May fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 17:15 (GMT +6) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
A Flyweight (52 kg) contest will open the second leg as 3-1 Olzhas Sattibayev meets 1-1 Karen Arutiunian.
Sattibayev is a clever athlete in the ring who very quickly works out weaknesses in his opponents, while Arutiunian displayed his toughness during his quarter-final clash with Gaurav Bidhuri.
Although Kazak Lightweight (60 kg) Zakir Safiullin has amassed a relatively disappointing 1-3 record this season, all four of his matches have occurred away from home.
Safiullin will be relieved to be competing in Kazakhstan in this semi-final, but he comes up against a very difficult rival in Russia’s 1-1 Artur Subkhankulov.
Both of these boxers boast excellent stamina, which makes this a very difficult clash to predict.
Current Kazakh National Champion Aslanbek Shymbergenov is 2-1 in WSB so far in Season V, but has yet to perform to the best of his ability.
He will hope that he reaches top form in Astana when he battles Russian debutant Iagub Nuriev in a clash which could have huge significance on which Franchise reaches the final.
25-year-old Light heavyweight (81 kg) Nurdaulet Zharmanov has won medals at high level competitions throughout his boxing career, and makes his first appearance of the season for Astana Arlans against Russia’s 1-0 Eduard Yakushev.
Zharmanov boasts the more technically sound style of the two, but Yakushev is a confident competitor who carries significant power in his shots.
Week 13 Group A Match Ukraine Otamans vs Russian Boxing Team
The last scheduled bout of the evening will be a Super heavyweight (91+ kg) shootout between Ivan Dychko and 3-2 Russian mauler Maxim Babanin.
Although he has won medals at both the Olympic Games and in two AIBA World Championships, Dychko has not fought in WSB this season with Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic the number one Super heavyweight boxer for Astana Arlans.
Babanin lost his quarter-final match with Guido Vianello after a slow start, however Dychko should be wary of Babanin’s resilience, which has seen him finish the majority of his WSB matches strongly, including in his win over Britain’s Joseph Joyce.
If there is a requirement for a tie-breaker after the first five matches, a Heavyweight (91 kg) clash involving Yerkin Mukametzhan and Dmitry Zaytsev will determine the second WSB finalists.
World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season IV Champions Cuba Domadores earned an entertaining 5-0 victory over Mexico Guerreros in the second leg of their semi-final, and reached the WSB Final 10-0 on aggregate.
After their first leg whitewash triumph, Cuba began tonight’s action having already qualified for the Final as Mexico was unable to produce a boxer in the Light heavyweight (81 kg) division.
Ecuador’s Carlos Mina could not weigh-in for his proposed match with Cuba’s Julio Cesar La Cruz due to illness, so their contest was declared a walkover win for La Cruz which gave Cuba an unassailable 6-0 lead before a glove had been thrown in Havana.
Arlen Lopez vs Roberto Zariñana (Cuba Domadores vs Mexico Guerreros)
This was Cuba’s tenth 5-0 whitewash of Season V, and they will next meet either Astana Arlans Kazakhstan or Russian Boxing Team as they bid to become WSB Champions for the second year in a row.
Frank Osvaldo Zaldívar Santisteban displayed the strength of the Cuban team as he began the evening by winning his WSB debut against 4-4 Mexican Flyweight (52 kg) Orlando Huitzil Ahuatl.
Santisteban is a very exciting prospect, and impressed throughout his contest with the experienced Ahuatl.
Both Flyweights continually pressed forward, but it was the Cuban athlete who controlled the important elements of the bout, and eventually won 49-46 according to one judge, and 48-47 on the remaining scorecards.
Two-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez earned Cuba’s third win of the evening, and took his Season V record to 8-0 in the process with a dominant performance over 5-2 Lindolfo Delgado.
Alvarez is one of the smoothest in-ring technicians of WSB, and his excellent versatility confounded Delgado in every round.
The penultimate match of this semi-final was a Welterweight (69 kg) rematch between Cuba’s Olympic and AIBA World Championships gold medalist Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo and Héctor Andrés Reyes Anguiano, where once again this season the Cuban star defeated his Mexican rival.
Sotolongo had struggled to truly impress in this campaign despite his many accolades, but he improved immensely in Havana to show exactly why he is regarded as one of the best boxers in the world.
Hard right hands and stiff jabs forced Anguiano backwards despite his attacking instincts, and the Mexican fighter was forced to take a standing count in the fifth round after being hit by a left hook.
All three judges awarded every round to Sotolongo who looks back to his brilliant best.
Cuba Domadores vs Mexico Guerreros (Regular Season Week 12 Match).WSB
7-1 Super heavyweight (91+ kg) Domadore Lenier Eunice Pero closed the semi-final in style for Cuba as he stopped former Pan American Games bronze medalist Jorge Quiñonez in round one of their contest.
Pero dropped Quiñonez with a left hook to the body less than a minute into the frame, and a follow-up shot to the midsection forced the end of the match shortly after.
Cuba now has a 73-7 record this season, and look virtually unbeatable heading into the WSB Final.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and Russian Boxing Team battle to reach the WSB Final
The second World Series of Boxing (WSB) semi-final features a mouthwatering two-legged tie between Season III Champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan, and WSB veterans Russian Boxing Team.
Kazakhstan has lost just once this season, as they won 13 matches in a row before their winning streak was snapped by Italia Thunder in the last week of the group stages.
Astana Arlans also enjoy home advantage in both legs due to placing first in Group B, which was partly down to remarkable form in Kazakhstan, which has so far resulted in a dazzling 32-3 record in Season V.
Russia finished second in Group A after winning 10 of their 14 Regular Season matches, and qualified for the last four of WSB after eliminating Season II Champions Italia Thunder 9-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Both of these teams were eliminated at this stage in Season IV, so the tension will be high in each camp before the start of this fixture.
National Tennis Centre, Astana is the venue for this semi-final clash, where on Saturday 23rd May and Sunday 24th May fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 17:15 (GMT +6) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
The first leg begins at Light flyweight (49 kg), where 2-1 home favourite Temirtas Zhussupov battles 1-0 Russian Vadim Kudriakov.
Zhussupov is one of the fastest boxers in WSB and always looks to beat his opponent to the punch, while Kudriakov won every round of his quarter-final contest with Italy’s Gianluca Conselmo.
Russia’s 1-0 Andranik Grigoryan enjoyed a solid debut win for his Franchise in the quarter-final over Italy’s Riccardo D’Andrea, and the Bantamweight (56 kg) aims for his second success of the campaign against 2-0 Kairat Yeraliyev.
This could be one of the most entertaining matches of the first leg, as Grigoryan possesses a great range of punches, while 2013 AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Yeraliyev looked very impressive in his opening two Season V appearances.
Samat Bashenov was named the Best Asian WSB Boxer of 2013, and the Astana Arlans Light welterweight (64 kg) is undefeated this season with a 5-0 record, including three dominant home triumphs.
His semi-final rival will be Russia’s 23-year-old Avak Uzlian who has only competed once in Season V when he lost to Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo.
The penultimate match of night one is a fascinating Middleweight (75 kg) fight between the undefeated Meiirim Nursultanov, and Russian debutant Sukhrob Sidikov.
Nursultanov produced many remarkable results in the Regular Season, including a spirited win over Tomasz Jablonski where he took the undefeated record of the Polish fighter.
Sidikov has the difficult task of replacing the number one ranked Middleweight Petr Khamukov in Russia’s team, but he is an experienced competitor who will thrive on the opportunity he has been given here.
Kazakhstan’s Vassiliy Levit finished top of the Heavyweight (91 kg) rankings after seven splendid victories in the group stages, where only one of his victims managed to last all five rounds with the power-puncher.
Although Levit will look to finish the first leg in style for Astana Arlans, he will need to be wary of Russia’s Vitaly Kudukhov who has fought against many of the best boxers in the world throughout his distinguished WSB career.
All three of Levit’s home wins in the Regular Season came via TKO, and if he produces a similar performance in Astana it will give his Franchise renewed confidence heading into the second leg.
Arlen Lopez vs Roberto Zariñana (Cuba Domadores vs Mexico Guerreros)
Cuba Domadores vs Mexico Guerreros Leg 2:
Will Cuba Domadores go 16-0 in Season V following their second leg against Mexico Guerreros?
A marvelous 5-0 first leg victory for Cuba Domadores against Mexico Guerreros has already assured the Cuban team their place in a second successive World Series of Boxing (WSB) Final, as Mexico are unable to produce a boxer in all five of the scheduled weight categories of the second leg.
After Light heavyweight (81 kg) Carlos Mina was unable to weigh-in for his second leg contest with Cuba’s Julio Cesar La Cruz because of illness, his bout was declared a walkover victory for La Cruz, and with no Mexican reserve boxer available in the weight class, only four matches can now take place in the second leg.
The 5-0 defeat last night means that Mexico are unable to make up the difference on aggregate even if they win all four of the matches, so they are competing solely for pride in this fixture rather than a place in the final.
Cuba has won all of their 15 fixtures this season, with nine of those triumphs being whitewash victories.
Ciudad Deportiva, La Habana is the venue for this semi-final clash, where on Friday 22nd May fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:30 (GMT -4) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
Frank Osvaldo Zaldívar Santisteban makes his first appearance of the season in the opening match as he takes on 4-3 Mexican Flyweight (52 kg) Orlando Huitzil Ahuatl.
Santisteban is an exciting Cuban prospect, but Ahuatl boasts plenty of WSB experience having already competed in 35 rounds this season.
Two-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez has been one of the best boxers in Season V of WSB, and the 7-0 southpaw finished top of the Lightweight (60 kg) rankings at the end of the Regular Season.
Alvarez meets 5-1 Lindolfo Delgado in Havana, with his Mexican opponent coming off an excellent quarter-final triumph away in Azerbaijan.
Both of these boxers possess superb boxing fundamentals and tactical brains, which should make a very entertaining event.
The penultimate match of this semi-final is a Welterweight (69 kg) rematch between Cuba’s Olympic and AIBA World Championships gold medalist Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo, and 2-1 Héctor Andrés Reyes Anguiano.
Sotolongo lost twice in the group stages and has had a relatively disappointing season by his own high standards, while Anguiano is fresh off a devastating knockout victory over Orkhan Khasmammadov in the quarter-finals.
It was the Cuban boxer however who won their first meeting in week 12 of the Regular Season, and the wide margin of that victory makes him the favourite to succeed again in Havana.
6-1 Super heavyweight (91+ kg) Domador Lenier Eunice Pero closes the semi-final as he meets former Pan American Games bronze medalist Jorge Quiñonez.
Pero is not the heaviest hitter in the biggest weight class of WSB, but the 22-year-old has excellent stamina for a Super heavyweight, and has already beaten decorated opponents this season including Russia’s Maxim Babanin.
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