Can Morocco Atlas Lions maintain their momentum against Ukraine Otamans?
Morocco Atlas Lions host Ukraine Otamans in week 11 of the World Series of Boxing (WSB).
The Moroccan team won their last match away in London against British Lionhearts, while Ukraine defeated China at home last week.
This is also the penultimate match for these weight classes in the Regular Season, so there is significance for boxers competing who are aiming for Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification via WSB.
Hyatt Regency, Casablanca is the venue for this Group A clash, where on Friday 27th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 22:00 GMT at AIBABoxingTV.com.
Uzbekistan’s 5-0 Hasanboy Dusmatov has been one of Ukraine Otamans’ best boxers this season, and is ranked number two at Light flyweight (49 kg) two points behind Ireland’s Patrick Barnes.
Only one Light flyweight will qualify for Rio via WSB, so a win for Dusmatov against Moroccan debutant Yassine Zaher is imperative for the Uzbek star to keep Barnes in his sights heading into the last part of the Regular Season.
Another undefeated Uzbek fighter is Middleweight (75 kg) Hurshidbek Normatov who is 4-0 for Ukraine this season.
Normatov is ranked third at the weight class, a solitary point behind Poland’s number one Tomasz Jablonski, and level with Cuba’s Arlen Lopez.
Two Middleweight fighters will qualify for Rio through WSB, so Normatov will need an impressive victory over 1-2 Atlas Lion Said Harnouf who won his last home match.
1-2 Bantamweight (56 kg) Mohamed Hamout has not competed for over a month, but returns to action when he faces Ukraine’s 3-1 Mykola Butsenko who could enter the Bantamweight rankings if he succeeds in Casablanca.
Ukraine have not won a match at Light welterweight (64 kg) this season in five attempts, but neither has Morocco’s 0-5 Hamza El Barbari, which makes his clash with 0-1 Dmytro Grynchenko a very interesting one.
The last match of the evening is a Heavyweight (91 kg) shootout between Amine Azzouzi who competes for the first time since week one against Ukrainian debutant Arsenity Azizov.
Individual and Team glory up for grabs as China Dragons host Cuba Domadores
World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season IV Champions Cuba Domadores have won all ten of their matches in Season V, and look for an eleventh win in a row away to China Dragons.
Six fighters competing in this match still harbour aspirations of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and with just two matches to go for each competitor in the Regular Season, victories are vital for all concerned.
Mangrovetree Convention Center, Sanya is the venue for this Group A clash, where on Friday 27th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 19:30 (GMT +8) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
The first bout of the evening is an intriguing Light flyweight (49 kg) contest where both participants know a loss will end their hopes of qualifying for Rio.
Just one Olympic quota is available from this weight class, and with Ireland’s Paddy Barnes leading the rankings with 25 points, Cuba’s fourth placed 3-2 Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez and China’s fifth ranked He Junjun are both ten points behind.
Because of the form of Barnes, and second ranked Hasanboy Dusmatov, a win for either the Chinese star or the Cuban might not be enough to keep their dreams alive, but the loser will definitely miss out, which makes victory essential.
Cuba’s Andy Cruz Gomez has only competed in three matches this season, but still stands fifth in the Bantamweight (56 kg) rankings, five points behind leader Magomed Gurbanov.
Two Bantamweights will qualify for Rio, and with second ranked Francisco Martinez facing fourth placed Meirbolat Toitov this week, a win for Gomez will send him up the rankings.
To achieve the victory however, he will need to defeat Diao Jianhao who has won both of his home matches in Season V.
4-0 Cuban Light welterweight (64 kg) Yasniel Toledo did not compete two weeks ago, which means the undefeated fighter is now ranked fourth in his weight class.
Only two points separate the top four fighters however, so a convincing win over 1-2 Sairike Tuoliaowutayi could launch Toledo back to the top of the rankings.
Middleweight (75 kg) is a similarly tight division, but Arlen Lopez has the advantage of being ranked second in the division.
Lopez is a point behind Poland’s Tomasz Jablonski in the rankings, but level with Hurshidbek Normatov who the Cuban lost his last away match to a month ago.
His opponent in Sanya is Chinese debutant Chao Gejiletu who will be looking to cause an upset in his first WSB appearance.
WSB Season IV Boxer of the Year Erislandy Savon is 5-0 this season, but is a point behind the number one ranked Heavyweight (91 kg) Vasiliy Levit.
Only one qualification spot for Rio 2016 is available for the Heavyweights, so Savon will need his fourth stoppage success of the season against 0-1 Jin Guo.
Savon was recently named the American Boxing Confederation’s Men’s boxer of 2014, and will take confidence from that accolade heading into this contest.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan hunt for 11th successive win away to USA Knockouts
The irresistible force meets the immovable object in week 11 of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) as USA Knockouts host Astana Arlans Kazakhstan.
USA Knockouts have lost three of their last four WSB matches but still remain third in the Group B table, while group leaders Astana Arlans Kazakhstan are undefeated in Season V.
With just two matches to go for the weight classes in action for this fixture, there is also massive importance for those boxers who are hoping for Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification via WSB.
Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami is the venue for this Group B clash, where on Friday 27th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:00 (GMT -4) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
For much of Season V, American Bantamweight (56 kg) Francisco Martinez was ranked number one, but after losing his undefeated record two weeks ago to Michael Conlan, he has slid down to second in the standings.
Two Bantamweights will qualify for the Olympic Games, but with the third ranked Conlan now breathing down his neck, and Azerbaijan’s Magomed Gurbanov a point ahead, Martinez needs to return to winning ways against Meirbolat Toitov.
The 3-0 Toitov is fourth in the WSB rankings, and a win could take him above Martinez going into the final match of the Regular Season.
Will home advantage enable Martinez to steady the ship with Rio 2016 almost in his sights? Or will Toitov, in his first away match of the campaign, put himself firmly in the qualification picture?
Middleweight (75 kg) is one of the closest divisions in WSB this season, with the top four boxers separated by just two points.
Kazakhstan’s Meiirim Nursultanov has amassed a 4-0 record across the campaign, and sits fourth in the rankings with two matches to go.
Although his Rio 2016 destiny is not currently in his hands, Nursultanov defeated the number one seed Tomasz Jablonski two weeks ago, and knows an away victory against American debutant Kalvin Henderson will greatly improve his chances of moving up the rankings.
Perhaps the most competitive weight class in all of the competition is Heavyweight (91 kg) where just one boxer will qualify for Rio through WSB.
5-0 Kazakh Vasiliy Levit leads the rankings but is just a single point ahead of Cuba’s Erislandy Savon.
All five of Levit’s fights this season have not gone past the third round, and he will need another early night this week when he meets Adrian Taylor who makes his first appearance for USA Knockouts.
The action begins in Miami at Light flyweight (49 kg) when Joshua Franco faces 1-1 Temirtas Zhussupov, while fifth ranked Light welterweight (69 kg) Samat Bashenov needs to defeat Tyrek Irby to maintain any chances of qualifying for Rio.
Algeria Desert Hawks and British Lionhearts battle for success in Blida
The bottom two teams of Group A in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) compete in an important match which could ultimately determine who suffers the wooden spoon at the end of the Regular Season.
Algeria are the eighth and last team in the group, but have competed in one less match than seventh placed British Lionhearts who have lost all five of their away matches this season.
Week four of the campaign was the last time the British Franchise won a WSB match, a 4-1 victory against Algeria in London.
Chalane Hocine, Blida is the venue for this Group A clash, where on Saturday 28th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 19:00 (GMT +1) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
The action begins at Light flyweight (49 kg) where both Algeria and Britain have failed to win a match in the weight class this season.
0-2 Desert Hawk Zoheir Toudjine meets 0-1 Harvey Horn in a fight which could shape the rest of the evening.
Fahem Hammachi makes his first appearance of the season at Bantamweight (56 kg) for Algeria, but will he win against Lionheart Sean McGoldrick?
McGoldrick will hope to become the first Welsh fighter to win in Season V, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist achieved three victories in Season III of the competition.
Britain’s 3-2 Samuel Maxwell responded well to losing two WSB matches in a row by putting on his best performance of the season two weeks ago against Ukraine’s Mger Oganisian.
This week he faces Light welterweight (64 kg) Ahmed Boudiaf who has achieved success in both of his home matches for Algeria.
3-1 British Middleweight (75 kg) Anthony Fowler lost his first match of the season two weeks ago, and his top five ranking, so a victory over Ilyas Abbadi is essential if he is to have any chance of qualifying for Rio 2016 via WSB with just two matches to go.
Abbadi was stopped in one round by Cuba’s Arlen Lopez a fortnight ago, but prior to that had won his first two matches of the season.
The last bout in Blida is a Heavyweight (91 kg) clash between 0-1 home favourite Samir Maslouh and 0-1 Lionheart Aboulaye Diane.
Who will produce magic in Maiquetía when Caciques Venezuela host Puerto Rico Hurricanes?
A South vs North American derby is one of the many highlights in week 11 of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) as Caciques Venezuela host Puerto Rico Hurricanes.
Both of these teams debuted this season, and each has acquitted themselves very well in the competition.
Venezuela have won four of their five home matches, while Puerto Rico are just one point behind third placed USA Knockouts in the Group B table.
Estadio Polideportivo José María Vargas, Maiquetía is the venue for this Group B clash, where on Saturday 28th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:00 (GMT -4.5) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
Two exciting Light flyweights (49 kg) open the action as 3-1 home star Yoel Finol, who has won all three of his home matches, meets 2-1 entertainer Anthony Chacon Rivera.
After two away defeats to begin his WSB career, Caciques Bantamweight (56 kg) José Vicente Azocar has earned victory in his two home matches, including a first round knockout over Argentina’s Elias Nahuel Gonzalez.
This week he meets Dominican fighter Hector Luis Garcia Mora who makes his debut for the Hurricanes.
1-3 Venezuelan Light welterweight (64 kg) Luis Arcón’s last victory was against Poland’s Damian Tadeusz Kiwior a month ago, and he will aim to continue the momentum against 3-2 Puerto Rican Jan Rivera who has lost both of his away matches in Season V.
France’s Christian M’Billi Assomo is one of the most exciting prospects in all of boxing, and the Middleweight (75 kg) performed exceptionally in his WSB debut a fortnight ago when he stopped Argentina’s Sergio Alberto Lebensztajn.
The Hurricane may face a difficult task in achieving a second successive stoppage however, as his week 11 opponent is the undefeated Jose Endry Saavedra Pinto who memorably defeated USA’s Anthony Campbell in week two.
Caciques Heavyweight (91 kg) Alfonso Flores was stopped in his first two matches of the campaign, but returns after an eight week absence to fight Gabriel Richards who is on a two fight winning streak.
Mexico Guerreros look for sixth successive win against Russian Boxing Team
Mexico Guerreros are one of the form teams in Season V of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) with the North American Franchise undefeated in five matches.
This week they meet Russian Boxing Team whose own unbeaten run was snapped last week by Cuba Domadores.
Many of the fighters competing in this fixture have aspirations to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games via WSB, and with just two matches to go in the Regular Season for the Mexican competitors in action this is a very important match for all concerned.
The Russian fighters actually have three more matches in the Regular Season however, following the postponement of their week one clash against Algeria Desert Hawks.
Gimnasio Olimpico De Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes is the venue for this Group A clash, where on Saturday 28th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:30 (GMT -6) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
4-1 Mexican Light flyweight (49 kg) Joselito Velázquez Altamirano is currently ranked third in the weight class, five points behind leader Patrick Barnes.
As only one Light flyweight will qualify for Rio through WSB, Altamirano needs an impressive win over Russia’s Vasilii Egorov who has won all three of his matches this season at home.
Russian Bantamweight (56 kg) Vladimir Nikitin is 3-0 in Season V, and could enter the rankings if he defeats Mexico’s 0-1 Sergio Alfredo Chirino Sánchez.
The Light welterweight (64 kg) division is incredibly close this season, and two Olympic quotas are available for that weight.
4-1 Guerrero Raúl Curiel García is ranked third, just one point behind the top two placed fighters Vincenzo Mangiacapre and Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev.
Garcia is also only one point ahead of fourth ranked Yasnier Toledo, and with all four of these boxers competing this weekend, a win for the Mexican is essential.
He has to defeat the unbeaten Vitaliy Dunaytsev to stay in Rio contention, and Dunaytsev has looked impressive this season defeating the likes of Samuel Maxwell and Hamza El Barbari.
Despite having only competed in three bouts so far in Season V, Russia’s Petr Khamukov is fifth in the Middleweight rankings, and he has a match in hand on his main rivals as well.
Khamukov has stopped all three of his opponents so far in the campaign, and a fourth against Mexican debutant Héctor Octavio Aguirre Martínez could catapult him up the Middleweight rankings.
The Heavyweights (91 kg) close the evening in Mexico as 1-0 home star Julio Cesar Castillo Torres meets 3-0 Evgeny Tishchenko.
Will Argentina Condors win their second consecutive match when they meet Italia Thunder?
Italia Thunder welcome Argentina Condors to Rome in week 11 of the World Series of Boxing (WSB).
The Argentine Franchise will be full of confidence after winning their first match of the season last week, and they also drew with Italy earlier on in the campaign.
Italy need a victory here to put pressure on the third placed USA Knockouts to give themselves a chance of qualifying from the group stages.
Additionally, three fighters from the Italian Franchise are strongly in contention to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through WSB, and need to win their bouts in this fixture.
Discoteca Alcatraz, Milan is the venue for this Group B clash, where on Saturday 28th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:00 (GMT +1) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
Ireland’s Patrick Barnes has won all five of his matches this season, and stands at the top of the Light flyweight (49 kg) rankings with 25 points.
Only one fighter will qualify for Rio 2016 via WSB at this weight class, but Barnes is in pole position to do so.
Two points ahead of nearest rival Hasanboy Dusmatov, if the Irish star defeats 2-1 Junior Zarate in Milan he will be on the cusp of qualification with one match to go
Another Irish fighter with Olympic dreams is Michael Conlan, who is third in the Bantamweight (56 kg) rankings.
Two quotas for Rio 2016 are available from this division, and the 3-2 Olympic medalist is just three points behind second placed American Francisco Martinez, with number one placed Magomed Gurbanov a further point ahead.
Conlan needs to win well against Argentina’s 0-2 Ignacio Perrin to remain in the hunt, but the Irish star usually performs very well when competing under pressure.
Light welterweight (64 kg) Vincenzo Mangiacapre is ranked number one in his weight class, but only one point separates the top four fighters.
Mangiacapre controls his own destiny however, and if he beats 1-2 Ronan Nahuel Sanchez he will head into the final match of the Regular Season with much confidence.
Both 0-1 Italian Raffaele Munno and 0-2 Christian Zarate look for their first win of the campaign at Middleweight (75 kg), while the night closes with a Heavyweight (91 kg) bout between 1-1 home star Fabio Turchi and 0-2 Condor Dario Alcapan.
Olympic dreams on the line as Rafako Hussars Poland meet Azerbaijan Baku Fires
Rafako Hussars Poland host Azerbaijan Baku Fires this week in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) with much to fight for.
The Azeri Franchise have won four of their last five matches, and are looking to maintain second place in the Group B table.
Meanwhile, fighters on both teams have just two more matches to compete in the Regular Season, and many of the boxers on show in this match have a burning ambition to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through WSB.
Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa AWFiS, Gdansk is the venue for this Group B clash, where on Saturday 28th March fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 20:30 (GMT +1) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
Azerbaijan’s 4-0 Magomed Gurbanov tops the Bantamweight (56 kg) rankings by a single point over America’s Francisco Martinez, but crucially leads third placed Michael Conlan by four points.
If Gurbanov wins his penultimate Regular Season match over Poland’s Sylwester Kozlowski he will take a giant step towards qualifying for Rio 2016.
The Light welterweight (64 kg) weight class is one of the most intense divisions in WSB this season, and Azerbaijan’s 4-1 Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev is second in the rankings, level on points with top placed Italian Vincenzo Mangiacapre.
Gadzhialiyev’s other rivals including Raúl Curiel García and Yasnier Toledo are just a point behind, so the WSB veteran needs a convincing victory against 1-3 Damian Tadeusz Kiwior to give himself the best chances of staying in the top two heading into the final match of the group stages.
Poland’s Tomasz Jablonski lost his first bout of the campaign two weeks ago to Meiirim Nursultanov, but still stands at the top of the Middleweight (75 kg) rankings with his destiny firmly in his own hands.
Only two points separates the top four fights in the division however, so anything other than victory over Jaba Khositashvili would be a disaster for the talented 4-1 fighter.
A superb Heavyweight (91 kg) shootout will close the night in Poland, as Rain Karlson meets fourth placed Abdulkadir Abdullayev.
Only one Heavyweight will qualify for Rio 2016 through WSB, so a loss for either man in this fixture will definitely spell the end of their hopes.
The action begins in Gdansk with a Light flyweight (49 kg) contest between Poland’s 1-4 Dawid Sebastian Jagodzinski and 0-1 Rasul Saliyev.
