BoxNation has secured the exclusive UK rights to the thrilling =bd Series of Boxing.
The competition, which pitches 16 national teams against one another in a league format that leads to play-offs and a final, is currently in its fifth season and will see ‘The Channel of Champions’ show the quarter finals before airing the semi-finals and final live. In addition to this season, BoxNation will also air the next two series’ in full, live and exclusive, with the first helping of the current series starting with a recap of the last eight stage from Tuesday 12th May until Saturday 16th May at midnight each night.
That’s followed by live coverage of both the semi-finals, which are taking place from Thursday 21st May until Sunday 24th May, and the final. The World Series of Boxing features some of the most talented young boxers around in a unique and exciting team format as fighters compete without vests or headguards in 5 three minute rounds; 5 bouts per match with a 10-Point-Must-System.
After starting in August 2008 the WSB has gone from strength-to-strength, with the competition welcoming one of boxing’s proudest nations, Cuba, to its ranks last year, who are represented by the currents champions the Domadores, winners in their debut season.
Despite missing out in this year’s quarter finals, British boxing fans will be able to cheer on the British Lionhearts in next season’s tournament with the likes of super heavyweight ace Joseph Joyce and the talented bantamweight Qais Ashfaq in the side.
A host of other top boxing nations are also involved in the tournament including franchises from Mexico, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, Russia, USA and many more.
Boxers taking part in the tournament can also find themselves on the plane to Rio 2016 with a quota of 17 places up for grabs to next year’s Olympic Games through the competition.
Plans are also afoot for the inclusion of women to the WSB from next season, giving the opportunity to the best female boxers in the world to compete alongside men in this team competition.
Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, said: “The World Series of Boxing has proved a big success since its launch in 2008. BoxNation are delighted to be able to showcase this exciting and ground-breaking tournament to its subscribers, with some of the very best young fighters from around the world competing. By bringing our subscribers the World Series of Boxing we are giving them a glimpse of tomorrow’s stars as they journey through to the top of the sport.”
WSB boxers will compete at the 2015 Pan American Games
The 2015 Pan American Games will be held in Toronto, Canada from July 10-26, and 41 nations will compete in this prestigious multi-sport event across 36 sports, with thirteen boxing weight categories included.
There are six Franchises in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) from North and South America, and five of them will have athletes from their teams competing in Toronto.
WSB Season IV Champions Cuba Domadores has ten fighters, Caciques Venezuela has eight, USA Knockouts has six, Season V quarter-finalists Mexico Guerreros has five plus Ecuador’s Julio Cesar Castillo Torres also gained a place while competing for the Guerreros, while Puerto Rico Hurricanes has one.
Below are the full list of boxers from WSB competing in the Games, and their Season V records and rankings in their weight classes so far.
Light flyweight (49 kg)
#3 Joselito Velazquez Altamirano (Mexico) 6-1
#4 Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez (Cuba) 5-2
#6 Yoel Segundo Finol Rivas (Venezuela) 4-1
Flyweight (52 kg)
#1 Yosbany Veitia Soto (Cuba) 7-0
#2 Jeyvier Jesus Cintron Ocasio (Puerto Rico) 6-1
#4 Orlando Huitzil Ahuatl (Mexico) 4-2
Bantamweight (56 kg)
#4 Andy Cruz Gomez (Cuba) 5-0
#6 Francisco Martinez (USA) 4-3
#10 Jose Vicente Diaz Azocar (Venezuela) 2-4
Lightweight (60 kg)
#1 Lazaro Alvarez Estrada (Cuba) 7-0
#4 Carlos Balderas Jr (USA) 4-1
#5 Lindolfo Delgado Garza (Mexico) 4-1
Light welterweight (64 kg)
#1 Yasnier Toledo Lopez (Cuba) 7-0
#2 Raul Curiel Garcia (Mexico) 6-1
#8 Luis Martin Arcon Diaz (Venezuela) 3-3
Welterweight (69 kg)
#5 Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo (Cuba) 4-2
#6 Gabriel Maestre (Venezuela) 4-2
#7 Brian Ceballo (USA) 3-4
Middleweight (75 kg)
#2 Arlen Lopez Cardona (Cuba) 6-1
#8 Anthony Campbell (USA) 3-3
#9 Misael Uriel Rodriguez Olivas (Mexico) 2-4
Light heavyweight (81 kg)
#2 Julio Cesar La Cruz Peraza (Cuba) 6-1
#4 Albert Ramirez Duran (Venezuela) 5-1
#7 Steve Nelson (USA) 3-4
Heavyweight (91 kg)
#2 Erislandy Savon Cotilla (Cuba) 7-0
#7 Julio Cesar Castillo Torres (Ecuador) 3-0
#9 Alfonso Jose Flores Millan (Venezuela) 2-2
Super heavyweight (91+ kg)
#3 Lenier Eunice Pero Justiz (Cuba) 6-1
#5 Edgar Muñoz Mata (Venezuela) 3-4
#6 Cam F. Awesome (USA) 3-3
2015 AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships:
441 boxers aim for gold in Taipei
One of the most prestigious boxing events of the year begins this week, as the 3rd edition of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships starts in Taipei, Taiwan.
An excellent line-up of boxers from 45 nations have registered to take part in this tournament, and the sporting world will be able to view the future stars of women’s boxing firsthand.
Fast facts
What: AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships
Where: Taipei, Taiwan
When: 14-25 May 2015
On Wednesday 13th May, a press conference was held ahead of the Championships, where a wide range of boxing dignitaries attended, including AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, Chairman of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee Hong Dao Lin, President of the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association Wunan Lee, Deputy Director of Education Weimin Jiang, Manager of the Gym Zhihan Chen, Supervisor Waldemar Mencel, Competition Manager Ben Cheng, plus the entire boxing team of Chinese Taipei.
Many members of the local media also attended, and the event was a perfect introduction for the upcoming competition.
The Tension and the Drama
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin is a hero in her home country, and will be the host nation’s biggest hope to reach the top of the podium.
The Taipei-based athlete was a gold medallist in the 2013 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in Albena, Bulgaria, and earned a silver medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
With such high expectation on her shoulders, can the super talented Chen Nien Chin use the pressure to her advantage, and triumph at the top of the strong Middleweight (75 kg) class?
The most anticipated battle of the Championships
Armenia’s Anush Grigoryan and China’s Chang Yuan have both achieved significant victories in worldwide events, and are in the midst of an intense rivalry having met in the ring three times already in their young careers.
The first clash was held in Albena over 18 months ago where the Chinese boxer won their inaugural meeting, while Grigoryan gained revenge in the qualification event of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Sofia.
Chang Yuan won their third contest in the front of her home crowd during the boxing tournament of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and if they meet again in the Youth Flyweight (51 kg) class in Taipei, their fourth battle will be one of the most anticipated bouts of the entire competition.
One to watch
US star Jajaira Gonzalez is one of the most prodigious talents in all of boxing, and she has never been defeated throughout her boxing career.
Her list of accolades at such a young age is remarkable, with victories in the 2013 AIBA Junior World Championships, the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and its qualification event, plus the AMBC American Women’s Youth Continental Championships.
Gonzalez is seeking another significant medal in the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships, and the hugely talented boxer will attract much attention in the ring if she remains undefeated in Taipei.
AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships Key Facts
Continuing the excellent ascent of women’s boxing in terms of popularity, the final number of registered athletes is 441 from 45 nations.
The number of Youth athletes is 247, and they will be fighting in the following weight classes: 48 kg, 51 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg, 81 kg and +81 kg.
Additionally, 194 Junior boxers have registered in thirteen official weight classes: 46 kg, 48 kg, 50 kg, 52 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 66 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, +80 kg.
Among the developing boxing nations, Afghanistan, Botswana, Burundi, Guatemala, Haiti, Kosovo, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New-Guinea and Sri Lanka will all take part, while both DPR Korea and Thailand will make their debut in the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships.
This event will also mark the first appearance of Canada in the tournament, and their team will be looking for medals alongside Vietnam, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
History of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships
The event was launched in 2011 when Antalya hosted the first edition of the Championships for Youth and Junior women’s boxers, and the best performances was achieved by China, India, Russia, Turkey and Sweden.
Japan and Kazakhstan also claimed gold medals in Antalya, with Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia and Vietnam earning medals as well.
Albena, Bulgaria hosted the second edition of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships in September 2013, where the Powerful Russian side claimed five gold medals, with Poland and United States both earning three top positions.
Ten of the thirteen junior gold medallists from Albena will compete again in the Championships in Chinese Taipei, and the host nation will be looking to improve on their two historic golds from two years ago.
England excel on Day 1 of AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships Taipei 2015
The first competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships Taipei 2015 took place from the Xinzhuang Stadium, where 16 matches from the Youth section of the event delighted the watching audience.
Bout of the day
Jajaira Gonzalez is a highly decorated American boxer who has already won many gold medals in her young career, and she began her journey in Taipei with an excellent victory over China’s four-time National Champion Gao Meiq.
Gonzalez is the main gold medal favourite of the Youth Lightweight class (60 kg), and lived up to her sterling reputation when she knocked down her Chinese opponent in the opening round.
The US boxer gained confidence from the opening three minutes, with great combinations further damaging her rival throughout the rest of the rounds.
Romania’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Championships bronze medallist Dana Maria Borzei meets Gonzalez in the last 16, and their contest is a highly anticipated one.
Team of the day
England has sent a small, but very competitive team to Taipei, and they began the Championships with several impressive performances.
EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Champion Ebonie Jones recently joined the youth age group in January, having not lost in the ring since September 2013.
Jones had her 17th birthday just before this tournament, and celebrated by winning her opening Youth Flyweight class (51 kg) match against Thailand’s Pattanaporn Lattipromma.
The Portsmouth-based boxer worked hard in her bout against the Thai fighter, eventually securing victory in the the contest by unanimous decision.
Shona Whitwell began boxing at the age of 7, and the 17-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer displayed her experience with a victory over Vietnam’s Women’s Junior National Champion Do Thi Mai.
Whitwell constantly moved forward in their battle, and she delivered the second success for England on the opening competition day.
Surprise of the day
Wang Ssu Ting became the first boxer from Chinese Taipei to compete in front of her home fans, but she was surprisingly eliminated by Ukraine’s Anastasiia Biloshytska.
The Ukrainian was a late replacement for AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Anhelina Bondarenko in the Lightweight class (60 kg), and she took control of the contest in the middle stages en route to a deserved victory.
One to watch
Romania’s Andreea Seni has won five national titles in various age groups, and her expectations for success are high in Taipei.
The 18-year-old began her competition by defeating Sweden’s Queen’s Youth Cup silver medallist Katrin Noren, which makes her a boxer to look out for in the latter stages of this event.
Stat/Fact of the day
The number of Junior boxers competing in Taipei is 133 from 29 nations, and 164 youth athletes from 36 countries are fighting for the medals.
Kazakhstan and Russia have both sent the maximum number of 23 Youth and Junior boxers, while Chinese Taipei began the day with 15 competitors.
Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, DPR Korea, Guatemala, Haiti, Kosovo, Nepal, Switzerland, Thailand and Tajikistan are all making their debut in the competition.
Karolina Makhno dominates Day 2 of AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
35 bouts took place from the Xinzhuang Stadium on the second day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, with many spectacular contests among them.
Bout of the day
Ukraine’s 15-year-old Karolina Makhno is one of the most powerful Junior boxers in the world, with more than 50% of her bouts finishing inside the distance.
The undefeated star arrived in Taipei as the favourite of the Junior Middleweight class (75 kg), and lived up to her reputation with a stoppage victory over US Junior National Champion Amanda Bermudez.
Makhno dominated the opening round with constant pressure against the tough US boxer, and after more supremacy in round two, the referee stopped their contest midway through the frame.
Team of the day
Six Russian boxers competed on the second competition day in Taipei, and all remained undefeated after the action had finished.
Junior National Champion Valeria Rodionova began a day of phenomenal success for Russia with a victory against Vietnam’s two-time National Champion Ha Thu Hong.
Anastasia Selina then controlled all of the rounds against Italy’s Manuela Bressan in their Bantamweight class (54 kg) bout.
Junior Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer Ekaterina Dynnik defeated Kazakhstan’s Salima Tleubayeva by unanimous decision, before Karina Ivanova beat Turkey’s Cagla Aluc in a narrow bout.
Russia’s Youth Bantamweight class (54 kg) number one Umeda Saidova then outperformed Chinese Taipei’s Wu Shih Yi in an outstanding contest, while Russia’s sixth boxer to triumph was four-time National Champion Elizaveta Nemtseva, who dominated her contest against Hungary’s Dorina Papp.
Surprises of the day
Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku took part in the EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships in Assisi, Italy last year, but she was not the favourite against Switzerland’s multiple international tournament winner Naomi Gertsch in Taipei.
Despite her underdog status, Sadiku displayed a remarkable fighting spirit in their intense contest, and won by split decision despite the warning she received in the final round.
Ireland’s Kelsey Leonard received a tough task in her first match of the competition when she was drawn with Wang Chin Hsin.
Leonard’s opponent was cheered rapturously by the watching crowd as she was a home favourite, but she succumbed to the fluid counter-attacks of her Irish rival and lost the bout.
Ones to watch
Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Emi-Mari Todorova turns 16 tomorrow, and celebrated in style with a victory over Romania’s Junior National Cup winner Cristina Aciobanitei.
Todorova had gold medal expectations before the Championships, and her opening performance proved she has got a realistic chance to achieve that goal.
Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist star Irma Testa used her height advantage successfully against Chinese Taipei’s Liu Chia Chun, while teammate Giovanna Marchese knocked down Thailand’s Pakamart Suepsoda en route to a dominant points win.
Fact of the day
35 Youth and Junior bouts were held on Day 2 in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships Taipei 2015, where the Asian and European boxers particularly excelled.
Quotes of the day
“Kelsey Leonard was one of our boxers that we knew could perform well in the Championships as she has been showing good promise at home, and we brought her to France to give her some international experience before this competition.
“It is always hard to fight against a home boxer in the opening match, so we tried to concentrate on quick counter-attacks. I know this surprise element is now out of the bag, but I believe Kelsey will be able to raise more eyebrows in these Championships,” commented Irish head coach Liam Brereton after Kelsey Leonard’s triumph in the Junior part of the competition.
“I am very happy, the emotions are strong in our sport! In the second round my body started to respond properly and I realized that my opponent was losing a bit of her security, so in the third round I felt confident about myself. Now I am thinking about the next match and looking forward to it, I’m excited to keep improving every time,” said Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Irma Testa after her opening success.
