Superb British Lionhearts Roar Into Play-Offs With Superb 4-1 Win Over USA Knockouts On Night Of Three TKOs

The British Lionhearts put in a sensational performance against USA Knockouts in London on Thursday night to maintain their unbeaten record in WSB Season VI. The Lionhearts now have a five-point lead over the second-placed Americans and host the Morocco Atlas Lions in two weeks’ time.

European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medalist Muhammad Ali got the home side off to a strong start against USA Knockouts’ 23-year-old Gaurav Bidhuri, his lightening combinations and long, straight punching delivering a unanimous judges’ decision after five rounds.

The Americans were soon back on level terms after winning the battle of the welterweight southpaws. Lionhearts’ promising debutant Cyrus Pattinson was stopped in his tracks in the third round of what had, up to then, been a balanced contest with fellow debutant Ardreal Holmes, with the American’s jabs putting Pattinson on the canvas.

Wales’ European Confederation Champion Joseph Cordina continued his strong run of form with a confident display against Knockouts debutant Bruce Carrington. Cordina was focused throughout, comfortably taking all five rounds for a unanimous points decision to give the home side an advantage they would refuse to let slip.

Lionhearts’ Joshua Buatsi had his opponent Souliman Abdourachidov on the canvas as early as the first round, but full credit to the Frenchman who returned well in the second and third of a gripping encounter. But it was Buatsi, fuelled by the vociferous home crowd, who seized control, delivering a massive left in the fourth that had Abdourachidov down for the final time as the referee awarded the home side the TKO and a deserved win on the night.

That left Joseph Joyce to return to the side and round-off the action in emphatic style. Last year’s super heavyweight star returned to the WSB fray with a big left hook in the opening seconds and then had Knockouts’ Brandon Lynch on the canvas inside the first minute, raising the roof on York Hall and sealing a memorable win for the Lionhearts.

British Lionhearts Focused On Preserving Lead At The Top Of Group B Against Closest Rivals USA Knockouts On Today

British Lionhearts could seal their place as Group B winners on Tonight as they entertain the USA Knockouts in London’s York Hall. Season VI began well for the home side with a tight win in Miami, and victory in the return match would book their place in the Playoffs stages.

European Confederation Championship silver medalist Muhammad Ali will be first into the ring for the unbeaten Lionhearts looking for his second win of the season against Knockouts’ talented Indian Gaurav Bidhuri. Also in form for the hosts is Welshman Joseph Cordina, recent lightweight winner at the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Hungary and favourite to overcome Knockouts’ debutant Bruce Carrington, bronze medalist at the US National Olympic Trials.

British Lionhearts’ newcomer Cyrus Pattinson took silver in Hungary at welterweight and he meets Ardreal Holmes in what will be a revealing battle of the WSB debuts, before light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi, winner of both the Rio Test Event and Bocskai event, unleashes his powerful combinations on Knockouts’ French talent Souliman Abdourachidov.

British Lionhearts focused on preserving lead at the top of Group B against closest rivals USA Knockouts on Thursday

The last man out for the home side, with the possibility of sealing the Group B top spot in style, is European Games Super Heavyweight champion Joe Joyce. Joyce returns to the team after a brilliant 6-1 season last year, to face American Brandon Lynch, who will be riding high after defeating Mexico Guerreros’ Elvis Garcia on WSB debut in Week 4.

WSB Week 9: Ukraine Otamans Enjoy 4-1 Away Victory Over British Lionhearts In London

The disappointing form of the British Lionhearts in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) continued with a 4-1 home defeat to Ukraine Otamans in London.

This result was important for the Ukrainian Franchise who earned their first victory in four WSB matches, which keeps alive their chances of qualifying from Group A.

Ukraine started the match 1-0 up after British Light flyweight (49 kg) Ashley Williams could not compete in his match with Uzbekistan’s 5-0 number two ranked Hasanboy Dusmatov.

A Bantamweight (56 kg) clash between Britain’s Qais Ashfaq and Ukraine’s Mykola Butsenko was controversially stopped in the fifth round due to a cut suffered by Ashfaq, and the match was awarded to Butsenko.

Ionut-Mirel Jitaru vs Denys Poyatsyka (British Lionhearts vs Ukraine Otamans)

Samuel Maxwell earned his third win of the season for the Lionhearts with a comfortable and entertaining points win over Light welterweight (64 kg) Mger Oganisian.

The Otamans secured the overall victory in fight number four as Heavyweight (91 kg) Denys Poyatsyka remained undefeated after his bout with Romania’s Ionut-Mirel Jitaru was stopped early.

A disappointing evening for the Lionhearts was made worse in the final match of the evening, when star Middleweight (75 kg) Anthony Fowler was outpointed by Hurshidbek Normatov.

British Lionhearts are at home again next week against Morocco Atlas Lions, while Ukraine Otamans host China Dragons.

Struggling British Lionhearts And Ukraine Otamans Seek WSB lifeline In London

Week 9 in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) begins with an intriguing clash at London’s York Hall as British Lionhearts host Ukraine Otamans.

Both Franchises have been in poor form recently, with the British team having lost six of their last seven WSB matches, while Ukraine have only won one of their last five fixtures.

This is perhaps the last chance for the Lionhearts to climb the table and build momentum for a strong finish to the Regular Season, and the Otamans need this victory to stay level with the top teams in the group.

York Hall, London is the venue for this Group A clash, where on Thursday 12th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:00 GMT at AIBABoxingTV.com.

Babic vs Joyce (China Dragons vs British Lionhearts

British Light flyweight (49 kg) Ashley Williams has lost all three of his WSB matches this season, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist faces a tough return to action against Uzbekistan’s 4-0 number two ranked Hasanboy Dusmatov.

An excellent Bantamweight (56 kg) clash follows between 2-1 home star Qais Ashfaq who has won both of his home matches in Season V, and 2-1 Mykola Butsenko.

Lionheart Light welterweight (64 kg) Samuel Maxwell started his campaign superbly with two successive victories, but like his Franchise he has found WSB tough going recently, and has lost his last two matches.

Maxwell will aim to return to form in London as he faces Ukrainian debutant Mger Oganisian who aims to become to the first Otamans boxer to win at the weight class this season.

Anthony Fowler – British Lionhearts

Britain’s Anthony Fowler has been one of the best boxers for his team so far in WSB, and the 3-0 Middleweight (75 kg) is on the cusp of a top five ranking in the weight class.

The AIBA World Championships bronze medalist fights the number three ranked Uzbek Hurshidbek Normatov who competes away for the first time in Season V.

0-3 Romanian Heavyweight (91 kg) Ionut-Mirel Jitaru continues his search for a first win of the campaign in the last fight in London, and he has a tough evening in store against the undefeated fifth ranked Ukrainian Denys Poyatsyka.

Can The Lionhearts Tame The Dragons To Begin WSB Season V?

After seven long months, the World Series of Boxing (WSB) returns on Thursday, 15th January, and the first match of Season V is a mouthwatering battle between two Franchises returning to the competition.

London’s York Hall is one of the most iconic boxing venues in the world, and its humble location in East London is the home-base for British Lionhearts who compete in Season V after missing last season.

Their opponents are China Dragons, who are back aiming to replicate the success of the Beijing Dragons Franchise which competed in the first two WSB seasons.

Boxing fans in Britain can view the event live at 8.00pm GMT on the BT Sport 2 television channel, while the rest of the world can watch free, live and on demand at AIBABoxingTV.com.

Light Welterweight (64kg) Askhat UALIKHANOV Astana Arlans Kazakhstan (R) vs Yasnier TOLEDO Cuba Domadores (L). Credit AIBA World Series Of Boxing

Kicking off the action at Light flyweight (49 kg) is an intriguing contest between Commonwealth Games bronze medalist and British Lionhearts representative Ashley Williams and 2014 China Open Tournament silver medalist He Junjun.

The Light flyweights are the quickest boxers in WSB, and this opening clash will be exciting from beginning to end.

Eight medalists from the 2014 Commonwealth Games are in the British squad, including Bantamweight (56 kg) Qais Ashfaq who won a silver medal in the competition, and he squares off against China’s Diao Jianhao in match two.

In the third fight of the evening, Sam Maxwell is in action, and the Light welterweight (64 kg) has valuable WSB experience having competed for the Lionhearts in Season III.

His opponent is China’s Sairike Tuoliaowutayi who won the Chinese Youth National Championships in 2011.

Anthony Fowler has emerged as one of the best Middleweights (75 kg) in the world over the past two years, and the Commonwealth Games gold medalist and the AIBA World Championships bronze medalist won his lone WSB match in Season III by stoppage.

China’s Zhou Di will be in the opposite corner, and Di made the quarter-finals of the 2014 Asian Games.

The regulations of WSB state that all teams must select at least one overseas boxer for every match, so therefore the Heavyweight (91 kg) match which closes the evening is a match between Romania’s Ionut-Mirel Jitaru representing the Lionhearts, and Croatia’s Mediterranean Games silver medallist Josip Bepo Filipi who is an honorary Dragon for China.

Heavyweight boxing in WSB has to be seen to be believed, as the heavy-hitters always look for the knockout, and this fight has the capabilities to be the most entertaining scrap on a night of pure quality.