World Series of Boxing
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The World Series of Boxing or WSB was an international boxing tournament that allowed amateur boxers to compete professionally while maintaining Olympic eligibility. It was organized by AIBA from 2010 to 2018. AIBA confirmed in 2019 that the league had ceased operations amid mounting financial losses.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]The World Series of Boxing had a precursor in the International Boxing League, a short-lived U.S. venture established in November 1969 after the first U.S.—Soviet boxing dual meet in 1969. The league functioned until 1971 and hosted several exhibition tours of the Soviet boxing team across the United States to cities where IBL teams were located. Bill Daniels was the boss of the league. The league folded due to the unprofitable nature of amateur boxing in North America.
Format
[edit | edit source]Unlike in amateur boxing at the start of the World Series of Boxing's existence, competitors fought bare-chested and were not permitted to wear protective headgear. Each participating boxer was drafted by one of its international franchises, and could earn money by taking part in professional-style bouts. The competitors were allowed to maintain Olympic and AIBA world championship eligibility.
Like professional boxing, each bout was decided by the scores of three judges, or by a knockout, a technical knockout or a walkover. A WSB meet between two international franchises consisted of bouts in ten (formerly five) weight categories. The fights consisted of five three-minute rounds in each bout and the team that won the most number of bouts won the meet.[2]
Weight classes
[edit | edit source]Until season 4, the World Series of Boxing had five weight categories which were different from the 10 categories in amateur (Olympic) boxing or 17 categories in professional boxing. These were Heavyweight (91+ kg), Light heavyweight (80–85 kg), Middleweight (68–73 kg), Lightweight (57–61 kg) and Bantamweight (50–54 kg). In the fourth season (2013–14), the number of weight classes was increased to ten, mirroring amateur (Olympic) boxing.
- Light flyweight (46–49 kg)
- Flyweight (-52 kg)
- Bantamweight (-56 kg)
- Lightweight (-60 kg)
- Light welterweight (-64 kg)
- Welterweight (-69 kg)
- Middleweight (-75 kg)
- Light heavyweight (-81 kg)
- Heavyweight (-91 kg)
- Super heavyweight (91+ kg)
Teams
[edit | edit source]
Algeria Desert Hawks- Argentina Argentina Condors
Astana Arlans
Atlas Lions
Baku Fires- Error creating thumbnail: British Lionhearts
- Venezuela Caciques de Venezuela
- China China Dragons
- Colombia Heroicos de Colombia
- Cuba Cuba Domadores
- Italy D&G Milano Thunder
- Russia Dynamo Moscow
- Germany German Eagles
- Poland Hussars Poland
- Mexico Mexico Guerreros
Morocco Atlas Lions- France Paris United
- Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Hurricanes
- Russia Russian Boxing Team
- Turkey Türkiye Conquerors
- Ukraine Ukraine Otamans
- United States USA Knockouts
- Uzbekistan Uzbek Tigers
Results
[edit | edit source]| Season | Teams | Winners | Runners-up | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 12 | France Paris United | 6–4 | |
| 2011–12 | 12 | Italy D&G Milano Thunder | Russia Dynamo Moscow | 4–1 |
| 2012–13 | 12 | Ukraine Ukraine Otamans | 6–5 | |
| 2013–14 | 12 | Cuba Cuba Domadores | 6–5 | |
| 2015 | 16 | Cuba Cuba Domadores | 6–4 | |
| 2016 | 16 | Cuba Cuba Domadores | Error creating thumbnail: British Lionhearts | 9–1 |
| 2017 | 12 | Cuba Cuba Domadores | 6–5 | |
| 2018 | 12 | Cuba Cuba Domadores | 7–3 |
Performance by club
[edit | edit source]| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | |||
| Cuba Cuba Domadores | 3 | 2 | ||
| France Paris United | 1 | 0 | —
| |
| Italy D&G Milano Thunder | 1 | 0 | —
| |
| Russia Dynamo Moscow | 0 | 1 | – |
|
| Ukraine Ukraine Otamans | 0 | 1 | – |
|
| 0 | 1 | – |
||
| Error creating thumbnail: British Lionhearts | 0 | 1 | – |