Teams Reveal Line-Up For World Series Of Boxing, Season V

All 16 teams have announced the names of the boxers who will compete in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season V with over 520 names confirmed.

Each team will consist of at least 20 boxers, including such renown names as Michael Conlan of Italia Thunder, Joseph Joyce of British Lionhearts, Cam F. Awesome of USA Knockouts, Xuanxuan Wang of China Dragons and Marvin Cabrera of Mexico Guerreros.

(For the full list of boxers visit http://www.worldseriesboxing.com/boxers/).

British Lionheart’s first bout will take place in London on Thursday, 15th January against China Dragons. Mexico Guerreros will face Ukraine Otamans on 16th January in Kyiv. Italia Thunder will take on Azerbaijan Baku Fires in Baku on 17th of January, while USA Knockouts will face Argentina Condors in Buenos Aires on the same day.

WSB is the only Global Team Boxing competition where national teams go head to head in a league format. Developed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), this unique competition brings together the best Olympic and national boxers in an exciting team format with worldwide appeal. Season V sees 16 teams compete in two groups of 8 with the top 3 teams qualifying for play offs.

The boxers compete without vests or headguards in five three-minute rounds. There are five bouts per match and scoring is through the 10-Point-Must-System.

World Series Of Boxing

Season V sees the introduction of three new franchises – Morocco, Venezuela and Puerto Rico – as well as the return of two boxing powerhouses, China and Great Britain. Cuba, the reigning champions are joined with Russia, Mexico and Great Britain in Group A. Group B sees former champions Italy and Kazakhstan pitted against the US, Argentina and Azerbaijan.

As WSB boxers retain their Olympic eligibility, the road to Rio 2016 Olympic Games also begins in earnest with a quota of 17 places up for grabs through the competition, the first time so many boxers can qualify via WSB. Categories from 52kg to 81kg will be granted two quotas each, while 49kg, 91kg and +91kg will each be granted one quota.

World Series of Boxing Group A Season V Preview

Season V of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) is widely anticipated to be the greatest instalment of the world class boxing competition, with three news Franchises, plus two returning ones joining defending Champions Cuba Domadores and ten more teams competing to achieve team glory.

WSB is the only Global Team Boxing competition where national teams go head to head in a league format, and this season will see 16 teams compete in two groups of eight with the top three teams qualifying for play offs.

Group A consists of the current WSB defending champions Cuba Domadores, Season IV semi-finalists Russian Boxing Team, Season III runners-up Ukraine Otamans, the returning British Lionhearts, exciting Mexico Guerreros, durable Algeria Desert Hawks, plus two new Franchises, from China and Morocco.

World Series Of Boxing

With four continents represented in the group, many pugilism aficionados are excited about the all-African encounter between Algeria Desert Hawks, and newcomers Atlas Lions Moroccan Boxing Team. With Algeria’s prior experience in WSB they will be wanting to assert themselves as the best African team in the tournament, but Morocco are being tipped to put together an impressive squad, and they will meet each other in week six, and week 13 of the season.

Defending champions Cuba Domadores were the number one seeds in the draw, which resulted in them starting the season at home, against Morocco in week one. The Cuban team lost just once in WSB in their debut season away to Russian Boxing Team in the group stages, and they will seek to avenge that loss in week ten this time around.

Russian Boxing Team reached the semi-final stage last season, in part due to their excellent home form, and they start the season at home to Algeria. Consistently excellent in WSB, the Russian Franchise are always contenders to win every match they compete in, and there are many within the boxing world who consider this to be their year.

British Lionhearts reached the quarter-finals in Season III, and after missing Season V, they return to WSB with a team full of confidence and flair. Boasting many decorated medalists from a variety of international competitions, including eight medalists from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the return of the Lionhearts has resulted in much media attention in Britain, and they will be looking to start their season in style.

Mexico Guerreros were the Franchise to eliminate British Lionhearts in Season III, but failed to sparkle last season. As one of the proudest boxing nations in the world, they will be giving it their all to succeed in Season V, and after a tricky opening tie away in Ukraine, Mexico then have two home fixtures in a row against their African competitors, and will be hoping that a quick start will help them to qualify for the knock-out stages.

China Dragons are back in WSB after fielding the Beijing Dragons in Seasons I and II, and after much success in international boxing competitions over the last two years, their squad will be confident of causing upsets. There are no easy contests in WSB, but China’s start to the season is a particularly tricky one, as they will face Britain, Russia, Ukraine and Cuba in their first four matches.

Lastly, Ukraine Otamans have consistently qualified for the knock-out stages of WSB during their history in the competition, and they will be looking to reclaim the form they showed in reaching the Finals in the third season of WSB.