The World Series of Boxing (WSB) began its Season V with a superb night of action in London, as a packed York Hall enjoyed five world class bouts between two returning Franchises, the home team British Lionhearts, and the traveling China Dragons. The Lionhearts were victorious, winning the evening 3-2 on aggregate.
It was the Dragons however who started the night off successfully, as 2014 China Open Tournament silver medalist He Junjun defeated Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Ashley Williams at Light flyweight (49 kg).
The dominance of the Chinese star was surprising, as he clearly won all of the first three rounds, and though Williams improved as the fight progressed, Junjun won a unanimous decision 48:47, 49:46 and 50:44.
Bantamweight (56 kg) Qais Ashfaq made it 1-1 on the night in match number two, winning by split decision over Diao Jianhao.
Jianhao was dominant early, taking the first two rounds on the majority of the scorecards, but Ashfaq showed great resilience and heart to mount an unlikely comeback, and his rhythm improved massively as he grew more comfortable.
The final verdict was Ashfaq winning by a single round 48:47 according to two judges, while the third gave every round to Jianhao 50:45.
Sam Maxwell’s previous WSB experience came in very handy in his Light welterweight (64 kg) fight against Sairike Tuoliaowutayi, as his knowledge of the longer format saw him mix up his style, utilizing his great jab to much success in addition to showcasing some flashy combination punching.
Such was the intensity of his work, one judge gave three 10:8 rounds to the Englishman en route to a 50:41 card, while the other two judges saw it slightly closer, although still gave Tuoliaowutayi no rounds, with 50:44 scorecards.
AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Anthony Fowler took his overall WSB record to 2-0, although his Middleweight (75 kg) bout with 2014 Asian Games quarter-finalist Zhou Di was halted towards the end of the third rounds due to a head injury suffered by Fowler caused by an accidental clash of heads.
As per WSB regulations, the fight was stopped and the scorecards up to that moment were referenced in terms of a result, with Fowler the winner after almost three rounds of excellent boxing, as two judges rewarded the Englishman with 30:26 cards, while the third had it closer 29:28.
By the time of the last fight of the night, the Lionhearts had won the match, but there was still much to play for as every single bout carries significance regarding the WSB table.
In a unique contest which showcased the international flavor of the competition, Croatia’s Heavyweight (91 kg) Josip Bepo Filipi representing China Dragons ensured the Franchise would enjoy some momentum going into their next fixture, by outpointing Romania’s Ionut-Mirel Jitaru representing the Lionhearts.
It was a comfortable victory for Filipi who won 50:45, and 49:46 twice to confirm that the first match of WSB Season V finished 3-2 to the British Lionhearts.
Full Weekend Results:
Defending World Series of Boxing (WSB) Champions Cuba Domadores opened up their Season V campaign with a resounding victory over debutants Morocco Atlas Lions.
Havana was the location for a convincing 5-0 victory for Cuba, but Morocco will take confidence from many of the fights, as their talented fighters never gave up.
Cuba’s 2013 AIBA Junior World Champion Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez opened the evening off with a bang at Light flyweight (49) kg winning comfortably on points against Moroccan National Champion Zouhair El Bekkali.
Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez is one of the smoothest boxers in WSB, and the Cuban cantered to an easy Bantamweight (56 kg) victory over Mohamed VI Trophy winner Mohamed Hamout.
Two-time AIBA World Championships silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Yasniel Toledo took his overall WSB record to 6-2 after defeating Morocco’s Hamza El Barbari for the second time in months at Light welterweight (64 kg), while Arlen Lopez is a boxer to watch this season in the Middleweight (75 kg), with the dominant Domadores star stopping Olympic Badreddine Haddioui in the third round.
WSB boxer of Season IV Erislandy Savon sealed the whitewash 5-0 victory for Cuba, taking his WSB record to 9-0 at Heavyweight (91 kg) when he stopped Amine Azzouzi in just 51 seconds.
Awesome Astana Arlans Kazakhstan dominate Caciques Venezuela in opening WSB contest
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan are one of the favourites to top Group B, and they began Season V of World Series of Boxing (WSB) with a resounding 5-0 win over debutants Caciques Venezuela.
The Light flyweights (49 kg) opened the action at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, with home favourite Mardan Berikbayev winning a unanimous points decision over Venezuela’s rookie Yoel Finol, who pushed the Kazak star all the way.
WSB veteran Bantamweight (56 kg) Meirbolat Toitov then won a wide points decision over Venezuela’s José Vicente Azocar, before Samat Bashenov eventually won a close points win against Venezuela’s Luis Arcón.
The dominance continued at Middleweight (75 kg) as Kazakhstan’s exciting Meiirim Nursultanov stopped Juan Rodríguez in the fourth round, a surprise result considering the past WSB experience of Rodríguez.
Another stoppage occurred in the last fight at Heavyweight (91kg) with Vasiliy Levit continuing his menacing form from Season IV as he stopped Alfonso Flores at the end of round three.
Azerbaijan Baku Fires enjoy wide opening victory against Italia Thunder
A battle of two World Series of Boxing (WSB) superpowers opened up Season V in Group B, and Azerbaijan Baku Fires enjoyed an impressive 4-1 home victory over the always dangerous Italia Thunder.
The fans at the Guba Olympic Complex were treated to five fights of supreme quality, which fully displayed the international flavour and talent that the competition enjoys.
Italy enjoyed their sole victory in the first fight, with dynamic Light flyweight (49 kg) Paddy Barnes showcasing all of the characteristics which have earned him two Olympic medals as he won a wide points victory over Azerbaijan’s Magomed Ibiyev.
Michael Conlan, an Irish teammate of Barnes who also competes for Italia Thunder could not keep the winning run going at Bantamweight (56 kg) he he lost a close points decision to Magomed Gurbanov who maintained his winning WSB run.
Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev has been one of the standout Light welterweights (64 kg) across WSB history, and he showed why he is a legend of the competition as he dropped just one round according to one judge against Italy’s Olympic and AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Vincenzo Mangiacapre.
A close contest at Middleweight (75 kg) followed, and Belarus Middleweight (75 kg) Mikalai Vesialou won the contest for Astana Arlans with a tight split decision win over Italy’s Salvatore Cavallaro who will take confidence from his performance in the fight.
Powerful Heavyweight (91 kg) Abdulkadir Abdullayev continued his excellent form against Italian boxers in the last fight in Guba, as he knocked out Fabio Turchi towards the end of the third round.
A night of stoppages in Puerto Rico as The Hurricanes win over Rafako Hussars Poland
It was a dream World Series of Boxing (WSB) debut for Puerto Rico Hurricanes, as they stormed to a 3-2 win over WSB veterans Rafako Hussars Poland.
Coliseíto Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan saw five superb fights of much quality, with Puerto Rico winning the first three contests, before Poland hit back with a brace of victories.
Light flyweight (49 kg) and Olympian Anthony Ortiz began the night off in style for the Hurricanes as he comfortably dispatched Poland’s Dawid Jagodzinsk on points.
At Bantamweight (56 kg), Puerto Rico’s Garibaldy Gomez superbly stopped Poland’s Marek Pietruczuk in round one of their contest, a result which has sent shockwaves throughout the entire Bantamweight division.
Not much was known of Jan Rivera prior to his Light welterweight (64 kg) fight, but the Puerto Rican reacted superbly well to losing the first round against Damian Kiwior by taking all but one of the remaining rounds to seal the victory for Puerto Rico.
In WSB however, all bouts count towards the group tables, and Poland’s Igor Jakubowski relied on all of his three prior seasons of WSB experience to knock out Middleweight Jean Alicea in the third round.
Heavyweight (91 kg) Igor Jakubowski claimed Poland’s second victory of the evening in the last fight, as he stopped home star in round one.
