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The World Series of Boxing is back once again with Season VII

By Jacob Smith

The seventh annual WSB competition began last month as the Cuba Domadores hosted Caciques Venezuela on the 3rd of February.

The competition was first contested in 2010 with the teams representing city-based franchises rather than national franchises. The switch came about in Season III opening the WSB to a much wider audience and saw the arrival of the British Lionhearts.

Each franchise is responsible for the recruitment of boxers and the team’s preparation as well as ensuring the organization of competition is carried out effectively. The franchise is structured under three functions; Business, Commercial and Competition, this ensures smooth day-to-day running of the company, the delivery of events suitable for global viewing and that the recruitment, training and management of the boxers is of the highest standard.

Dr Ching-Kuo Wu is responsible for the creation of WSB and then a year later formed AIBA Professional Boxing which he is President of. AIBA solely owns WSB and has become a highly respected and model organisation amongst the boxing world. Each boxer in WSB is registered with AIBA and so too all of the referee’s and judge’s.

The WSB is currently split into three groups, group America’s, Asia and EMEA. The teams meet home and away before the top placed teams battle it out in the play-offs and then ultimately decide the competition in the final.

The competition is a great platform for fighters to showcase their ability whether it’s to impress professional promoters or prepare themselves for the Olympic Games or any other prestigious events.

Team GB’s Jack Bateson spoke about the competition earlier this year;

“It’s a great competition to be involved in, you’re fighting the best of the best at this level and it’s a good way to assess your own performances. Going five rounds away from home against tough fighters is all great experience”.

The Lionhearts are currently second in their group having won one and lost one. Their only defeat came in their opening fixture against Italia Thunder out in Milan, losing 3-2. It was a closely fought contest going down to the last bout. There was an immediate and positive response from The Lionhearts defeating the France Fighting Roosters 3-2 in Paris.

The WSB is shown live on BoxNation where you will be able to watch The Lionhearts’ next fixture against The Morocco Atlas Lions at the York Hall, London on the 9th of March.

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