LA Matadors vs. Moscow Dynamo in Hollywood, CA on 4 December 2011. Both amateur boxers compete without vests or head guards.

The World Series of Boxing or WSB was an international boxing tournament that allowed amateur boxers to compete professionally while maintaining 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.

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.

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.

Teams

Results

SeasonTeamsWinnersRunners-upFinal score
2010–1112France Paris UnitedKazakhstan Astana Arlans6–4
2011–1212Italy D&G Milano ThunderRussia Dynamo Moscow4–1
2012–1312Kazakhstan Astana ArlansUkraine Ukraine Otamans6–5
2013–1412Cuba Cuba DomadoresAzerbaijan Baku Fires6–5
201516Kazakhstan Astana ArlansCuba Cuba Domadores6–4
201616Cuba Cuba DomadoresUnited Kingdom British Lionhearts9–1
201712Kazakhstan Astana ArlansCuba Cuba Domadores6–5
201812Cuba Cuba DomadoresKazakhstan Astana Arlans7–3

Performance by club

Performance in the WSB finals by club
ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning yearsRunners-up years
Kazakhstan Astana Arlans322012–13, 2015, 20172010–11, 2018
Cuba Cuba Domadores322013–14, 2016, 20182015, 2017
France Paris United102010–11—
Italy D&G Milano Thunder102011–12—
Russia Dynamo Moscow01–2011–12
Ukraine Ukraine Otamans01–2012–13
Azerbaijan Baku Fires01–2013–14
United Kingdom British Lionhearts01–2016

See also

External links