Boxer of the week – Robeisy Ramirez
As London 2012 Olympic Champion and WSB Season IV Team Champion, there is no doubt as to the pedigree of Cuba Domadores’ Robeisy Ramirez in the ring. During Week 5 of Season VI, his display against China Dragons’ Wang Long once again showcased all that is great about this unique team event, emphatically putting the Cubans into a commanding 2-0 lead away from home and earning himself the WSB Boxer of the Week award.
Born in Cienfuegos in 1993, Ramirez, like many Cubans, started boxing from a young age. First donning the gloves at just ten years old, six years later in his first international event, the American Confederation Junior Championships in Ecuador, he won the gold medal and set off on a path that has taken him to the very top of the sport.
In 2010, Ramirez twice defeated India’s Shiva Thapa to win both the 2010 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Baku and then the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore. Two years later he was again representing his country, this time at the elite Olympic level at London 2012, and after powering past home favourite Andrew Selby and Ireland’s Michael Conlan, the 17 year-old Ramirez went all the way to win a remarkable gold medal.
Moving up to the bantamweight class, the young Cuban won the 2013 AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships in Santiago de Chile and helped the Domadores WSB Franchise win a superb Team title in their first year in the competition. Similarly dominant in Season V when the Domadores were the losing finalists, Ramirez has begun Season VI with the same intensity, landing inescapable double jabs against Wang Long during Week 5 and helping his team complete a comprehensive 5-0 whitewash in China.
Team of the Week
The Russian Boxing Team are enjoying life on the road so far in WSB Season VI. The side kicked off the new campaign with a Week 3 win in Poland, and on a close-run night of boxing in Vargas, it was the Venezuela Caciques who were the latest victims. A hard-fought 3-2 win in Venezuela takes Russian Boxing Team to the top of Group C and earns them the title of the Team of the Week.
Punch of the Week
Arlen Lopez of Cuba Domadores looked impressive during his bout against China Dragons’ Zhao Minggang wrapping up the contest in style with a devastating left jab to end the action in the third round. As a result the current AIBA Middleweight World Champion earns himself the title of Punch of the Week.
WSB TV Magazine – Week 5
World Series of Boxing action is heating up as we take another step closer to the knockout stages. Week 5 saw Ukraine Otamans march to the top of group A with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Turkiye Conquerors, while Cuba Domadores maintain perfect Season VI start with 5-0 away win over China Dragons. Russian Boxing Team earn hard-fought 3-2 win in Venezuela and Argentina Condors defeat Rafako Hussars Poland 3-2 in Buenos Aires.
Group B leaders British Lionhearts prepare for first home match of Season VI against Mexico Guerreros in London
British Lionhearts have begun their new World Series of Boxing campaign in style, winning back-to-back away matches against USA Knockouts in Miami and Morocco Atlas Lions in Casablanca to top Group B. The squad will be hoping to transfer that form to York Hall as the athletes prepare to welcome Mexico Guerreros to London on Thursday night, where both sides will be focused on victory.
The Guerreros can count on three members of the squad that conjured a surprise victory for the visitors in the corresponding fixture of Season V, including 2014 Pan-American gold medalist Joselito Velasquez who will face Lions’ WSB debutant Galal Yafai, deputising for Harvey Horn, in the opening light flyweight bout.
British Lionhearts’ Week 2 boxer Peter McGrail also makes way in Thursday’s line up, European Confederation silver medallist Qais Ashfaq stepping in to show what he is capable of against Sergio Chirino in the bantamweight contest. One man who does retain his place for the hosts is Pat McCormack, who opened his Season VI campaign with a spectacular triumph over USA Knockouts’ Gary Russell but will face a tough trial against Mexico’s Rio 2016 qualifier Raul Curiel.
The evening’s middleweight clash will see AIBA World bronze medalist Anthony Fowler take on Misael Rodriguez, who had an impressive Season V for the Guerreros, before the heavyweights wrap up the action. Lionhearts’ newcomer Lawrence Okolie scored a brilliant victory over US rival Cam F. Awesome on his WSB debut in Miami and that form means he will be favourite against Mexico’s WSB debutant Jared Barraza.
