World Series of Boxing

The World Series of Boxing or WSB was an international boxing tournament that allowed amateur boxers to compete professionally while maintaining amateur status and Olympic eligibility. It was organized by AIBA from 2010 to 2018. AIBA confirmed in 2019 that the league had ceased operations amid mounting financial losses.^[1]

History

The World Series of Boxing had a precursor in the International Boxing League, a short-lived U.S. venture established in November 1969 after the first U.S.—Soviet boxing dual meet in 1969. The league functioned until 1971 and hosted several exhibition tours of the Soviet boxing team across the United States to cities where IBL teams were located. Bill Daniels was the boss of the league. The league folded due to the unprofitable nature of amateur boxing in North America.

Format

Unlike in amateur boxing at the start of the World Series of Boxing's existence, competitors fought bare-chested and were not permitted to wear protective headgear. Each participating boxer was drafted by one of its international franchises, and could earn money by taking part in professional-style bouts. The competitors were allowed to maintain Olympic and AIBA world championship eligibility.

Like professional boxing, each bout was decided by the scores of three judges, or by a knockout, a technical knockout or a walkover. A WSB meet between two international franchises consisted of bouts in ten (formerly five) weight categories. The fights consisted of five three-minute rounds in each bout and the team that won the most number of bouts won the meet.^[2]

Weight classes

Until season 4, the World Series of Boxing had five weight categories which were different from the 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, mirroring amateur (Olympic) boxing.

• Light flyweight (46–49 kg)
• Flyweight (-52 kg)
• Bantamweight (-56 kg)
• Lightweight (-60 kg)
• Light welterweight (-64 kg)
• Welterweight (-69 kg)
• Middleweight (-75 kg)
• Light heavyweight (-81 kg)
• Heavyweight (-91 kg)
• Super heavyweight (91+ kg)

Teams

Results

Season	Teams	Winners	Runners-up	Final 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 Arlans	3	2	2012–13, 2015, 2017	2010–11, 2018
Cuba Domadores	3	2	2013–14, 2016, 2018	2015, 2017
Paris United	1	0	2010–11	—
D&G Milano Thunder	1	0	2011–12	—
Dynamo Moscow	0	1	–	2011–12
Ukraine Otamans	0	1	–	2012–13
Baku Fires	0	1	–	2013–14
British Lionhearts	0	1	–	2016

See also

• Boxing World Cup

References

External links

• Official site of World Series Boxing (WSB)

This page was last edited on 22 June 2023, at 14:33