World Series of Boxing

The World Series of Boxing or WSB is an international boxing tournament that allows amateur boxers to compete professionally while maintaining amateur status and Olympic eligibility. It is organised by AIBA. It is a team match-up, in many ways similar to other professional sport leagues.

Not to be confused with World Boxing Super Series.
LA Matadors vs. Moscow Dynamo in Hollywood, CA on 4 December 2011. Both amateur boxers compete without vests or head guards.

History

World Series of Boxing had its precursor, International Boxing League, a short-lived U.S. venture established in November 1969, shortly after the first U.S.—Soviet boxing dual, and functioned to 1971. It hosted several exhibition tours of the Soviet boxing team across the United States, in cities, where IBL teams were located. Bill Daniels was the boss of the league. The league folded due to financial reasons for amateur boxing wasn't profitable in the United States contrary to professional boxing.

Format

Unlike amateur boxing, competitors taking part in sanctioned World Series of Boxing bouts must be bare-chested and are not permitted to wear protective headgear. Each participating boxer is drafted by one of a number of international franchises and can earn money by taking part in professional-style bouts. However, they maintain Olympic and AIBA world championship eligibility and remain eligible to compete at the Olympic Games.

Like professional boxing, each bout is decided by the scores of three judges or, in some cases, by a knockout, technical knockout or walk-over. A WSB meet between two international franchises consists of bouts in ten (formerly five) weight categories. There are five three-minute rounds in each bout and the team that wins the most number of bouts wins the meet.[1]

Weight classes

Until season 4, there were five weight categories which were different than 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, and they are same as in amateur (Olympic) boxing.

Teams

Teams played in the WSB:[2][3]

Results
SeasonTeamsWinnersRunners-upFinal score
2010–11 12 Paris United Astana Arlans 6–4
2011–12 12 D&G Milano Thunder Dynamo Moscow 4–1
2012–13 12 Astana Arlans Ukraine Otamans 6–5
2013–14 12 Cuba Domadores Baku Fires 6–5
2015 16 Astana Arlans Cuba Domadores 6–4
2016 16 Cuba Domadores British Lionhearts 9–1
2017 12 Astana Arlans Cuba Domadores 6–5
2018 12 Cuba Domadores Astana Arlans 7–3

Performance by club
Performance in the WSB finals by club
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years Runners-up years
Astana Arlans32
2012–13, 2015, 2017
2010–11, 2018
Cuba Domadores32
2013–14, 2016, 2018
2015, 2017
Paris United10
2010–11
—
D&G Milano Thunder10
2011–12
—
Dynamo Moscow01
–
2011–12
Ukraine Otamans01
–
2012–13
Baku Fires01
–
2013–14
British Lionhearts01
–
2016

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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