WSB Yearbook 2011-2012

SECOND SEASON, 2011-2012 WSB WEBSITE

www.worldseriesboxing.com

WSB TV

www.worldseriesboxingtv.com

FACEBOOK

facebook.com/WSB.Boxing

TWITTER

www.twitter.com/WSB_Boxing

PHOTOS

www.flickr.com/photos/ worldseriesboxing/

SECOND SEASON, 2011-2012

SEASON 2011-2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM AIBA PRESIDENT, WSB BOARD CHAIRMAN AND IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER ................................................................................................

5

ABOUT WSB ............................................................................................................................................

7

SEASON 2 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................

NEW RULES ...................................................................................................................................

NEW FRANCHISES ........................................................................................................................

OFFICIAL DRAW ............................................................................................................................

SEASON SCHEDULE ......................................................................................................................

BOXERS’ DRAFT .............................................................................................................................

11 12 14 16 18 20

FRANCHISES ...........................................................................................................................................

ASTANA ARLANS ..........................................................................................................................

BANGKOK ELEPHANTS .................................................................................................................

LOS ANGELES MATADORS ............................................................................................................

DOLCE & GABBANA MILANO THUNDER .......................................................................................

DYNAMO MOSCOW ....................................................................................................................

VENKY’S MUMBAI FIGHTERS ........................................................................................................

BAKU FIRES ..................................................................................................................................

BEIJING DRAGONS ........................................................................................................................

ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS ...............................................................................................................

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS ........................................................................................................................

MEXICO CITY GUERREROS ...........................................................................................................

PARIS UNITED ................................................................................................................................

23 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68

REGULAR SEASON .................................................................................................................................

GROUP A ......................................................................................................................................

GROUP B ......................................................................................................................................

73 74 75

QUARTER-FINALS ...................................................................................................................................

1ST LEG ..........................................................................................................................................

2ND LEG .........................................................................................................................................

79 80 82

SEMI-FINALS ...........................................................................................................................................

1ST LEG ..........................................................................................................................................

2ND LEG .........................................................................................................................................

85 86 88

TEAM FINAL ...........................................................................................................................................

VENUE – ExCeL LONDON .........................................................................................................

MILANO CROWNED WSB TEAM CHAMPIONS ...............................................................................

FULL RESULTS ................................................................................................................................

91 92 94 98

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ..............................................................................................................

BANTAMWEIGHT RANKING ..........................................................................................................

LIGHTWEIGHT RANKING ...............................................................................................................

MIDDLEWEIGHT RANKING ............................................................................................................

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT RANKING ...................................................................................................

HEAVYWEIGHT RANKING .............................................................................................................

BANTAMWEIGHT ...........................................................................................................................

LIGHTWEIGHT ................................................................................................................................

MIDDLEWEIGHT .............................................................................................................................

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ...................................................................................................................

HEAVYWEIGHT ..............................................................................................................................

FULL RESULTS ................................................................................................................................

101 102 103 104 105 106 108 110 112 114 116 118

WSB BOXERS AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES ...................................................................... 121 WSB OFFICIALS .......................................................................................................................................

SUPERVISORS ................................................................................................................................

RINGSIDE DOCTORS & MEDICAL STATISTICS .................................................................................

REFEREES & JUDGES ......................................................................................................................

125 126 128 130

OFFICIAL GLOVE SUPPLIER .................................................................................................................... 135

TOP TEN ........................................................................................................................................ 136 WSB IN THE MEDIA ................................................................................................................................

TV COVERAGE ..............................................................................................................................

INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA ..........................................................................................................

WSB PR IN NUMBERS + PRESS CLIPPINGS ......................................................................................

SEASON’S BEST QUOTES ...............................................................................................................

139 140 144 146 150

WSB YEARBOOK: TABLE OF CONTENTS - 3

Dear Boxing Fans, After a sensational World Series of Boxing second season, it is my great pleasure to present to you this edition of the world foremost international team boxing competition’s Yearbook. Celebrating the best moments of the 2011-2012 campaign, we bring you all the facts and figures of this groundbreaking project by AIBA, the International Boxing Association.

The WSB has been an innovation in the sport, bringing the best of Olympic boxers together in a pro-style competition without vests or headguard, lifting the noble art to new heights to the delight of millions of fans worldwide. Season two began with a brand new format that saw twelve Franchises battling it out in two world groups before the top four in each moved into the twolegged knock-out stages, culminating in the WSB Team Final on 2 May 2012 at the ExCeL Arena, in London.

The ultra competitive and unpredictable nature of the competition, which brought together over 230 boxers from more than 40 different countries, showcased the very best athletes taking to the ring. Sporting excellence and drama aplenty made for an unforgettable season of top-class action.

In total, 73 matches and 370 quality bouts made for one unforgettable campaign, with two of its stars, John Joe Nevin of Paris United and Milano Thunder’s Clemente Russo, claiming silver medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

I am very proud to see the huge growth in interests in this project. The third season promises to be even bigger with Franchises from Ukraine, Argentina and Poland all set to enter the fray and compete in the exciting World Series of Boxing.

Yours boxing,

Dr Ching-Kuo Wu

After the resounding success of the WSB Team Final where the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder prevailed over Dynamo Moscow, the competition once again returned to ExCeL in the heart of London’s Docklands for the Individual Championships and the best boxer of each of the five weight categories was crowned WSB World Champion.

WSB YEARBOOK: PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - 5

ABOUT WSB

YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: ABOUT WSB - 7

ABOUT WSB

The World Series of Boxing is a groundbreaking, one of a kind, the first truly global boxing league that brings together Franchise teams from around the world to compete in five weight categories: • BANTAM (54KG) • LIGHT (61KG) • MIDDLE (73KG) • LIGHT HEAVY (85KG) • HEAVY (91+KG) As well as a being team competition, the series also incorporate separate Individual Championships for the best boxers in each of the five weight divisions.

Developed by AIBA, the International Boxing Association, WSB is a unique concept in the world of boxing. It is the only pro-style competition where boxers retain their Olympic eligibility. It brings together the best Olympic boxers in an explosive format with worldwide appeal. Endorsed by nearly 200 National Federations, it represents the future of boxing. It reunites the broader boxing community and connects the sport to its grassroots foundation, as well as helping it reclaim its noble position across the world.

WSB promotes a transparent scoring system and brings with it a much needed world-leading governance and commercial guidance to international boxing.

ABOUT WSB

WSB marked a new era in the sport of boxing when it launched its first season on 19 November 2010. In its inaugural year, the WSB competition had 12 teams spanning the globe in three continental conferences: the Americas, Asia and Europe. 219 boxers from 49 countries competed, and amongst those were 18 Olympic and world medallists. For the second season, the 12 teams were split into two world groups to further enhance the global appeal of the league.

For the first time, the world’s top boxers could enjoy training in a team, regular competition against world-class opponents and had the opportunity of earning a regular salary along with a performance based bonus system.

Paris United became the first WSB Team Champions. The five winners at the WSB Individual Championships were awarded Champion’s belts. AIBA had also secured direct qualification for the London 2012 Olympic Games for these WSB Individual Champions.

Ending a six months season made of 73 matches and 370 bouts, the 2011-2012 WSB Team Final featured the top two squads of the second season: with Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder prevailing over Dynamo Moscow to be crowned WSB Team Champions.

The WSB Individual Championships, like the Team Final, were held at the ExCeL London, which would later host the Olympic Games, and once again showcased the very best boxers in the competition all looking to stake their claim on the five Champion’s belts.

WSB YEARBOOK: ABOUT WSB - 9

SEASON 2 INTRODUCTION YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: INTRODUCTION - 11

NEW RULES

On the same day as the World Series of Boxing 20112012 season draw in Astana, Kazakhstan, the AIBA Executive Committee approved some amendments to the WSB Technical and Competition Rules to make the competition even more attractive. These key changes were based around boxing squads and the competition format. WSB also introduced a deciding bout in the event of a draw over two-legged ties from the quarterfinal stages onwards.

The minimum number of boxers in one Franchise was set at 15 for the second season with no limit on the maximum. The minimum number of international boxers per squad was decided as follows: • For a 15-boxer squad: 4 • For a 16 to 18 boxer squad: 5 • For a 19 to 20 boxer squad: 6 • For a squad with more than 20 boxers: at least 7

The maximum number of international boxers from the same country per Franchise would remain at 2.

Furthermore, new rules in the event of draws meant that the ranking of the teams with equal points would be decided as follows (in order of priority): • Least number of walkovers; • Superior number of matches won; • Superior number of matches won among the teams in question; • Superior number of bouts won among the teams in question; • Superior number of bouts won; • Superior number of accumulated individual points.

In order to ensure that the winners and runners-up in each group do not meet each other before the team finals, the playoffs schedule was determined as follows: Quarter-Final 1: A1 - B4 Quarter-Final 2: B2 - A3 Quarter-Final 3: A2 - B3 Quarter-Final 4: B1 - A4

Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 Winner QF2

Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 Winner QF4

FINAL 1: Winner SF1 Winner SF2

The quarter-finals and semi-finals were to be played in a knock-out system, on a home-and-away basis (two legs) and the winner being determined by the highest number of bouts won. If the scores were drawn after two legs, the winner would be decided by a sudden death bout.

The weight category of the sudden death bout for all play-off matches was determined by a draw.

QUARTER-FINAL 1

Heavyweight

QUARTER-FINAL 2

Middleweight

QUARTER-FINAL 3

Heavyweight

QUARTER-FINAL 4

Light heavyweight

SEMI-FINAL 1

Lightweight

SEMI-FINAL 2

Lightweight

During the regular season, an individual ranking is established per weight category. The ranking is then decided by the highest number of wins during the regular season. In case of equal amount of wins, it is decided by (in descending order): • Number of bouts competed in, less is prevailing; • Amount of wins by walkovers, less is prevailing; • Amount of technical draws, more is prevailing; • The head to head results; • Highest number of bouts won in away matches during the Regular Season; • Highest number of points per Judge obtained in victories. In case of a knock-out, the winner will be awarded fifty (50) points per Judge; • Least number of warnings during the regular season.

WSB YEARBOOK: NEW RULES - 13

NEW FRANCHISES

WSB welcomed three new Franchises for its second season, the Mumbai Fighters from India, the Leipzig Leopards from Germany and the Bangkok Elephants based in Thailand. These additions once again demonstrated not only the growth of the league but most importantly its broad worldwide appeal. Turkey’s Istanbul Bosphorus and the Russian Dynamo Moscow team were rebranded for the new season.

MUMBAI FIGHTERS In a country fanatic about cricket, Transstadia, an integrated sports company, saw an opportunity with WSB to introduce boxing to a whole new audience in India with the creation of the Mumbai Fighters. The overall strategy with the company was to develop a team with a core of national boxers to bring the best of international boxing to India.

In recognition of the potential of the sport as a great marketing tool, India’s leading poultry manufacturing brand, Venky’s, became the title sponsor for the Mumbai Fighters and in a further boost, the leading youth fashion brand Provogue also came on board and provided the team with top of the line casual and formal wear as well as hosting fashion shows to up the profile of the Fighters.

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS Germany has always been at the centre of the boxing landscape and it was with great pleasure that WSB welcomed the team into its competition. With the very close co-operation of the German Boxing Federation DBV, some of the best national boxers represented the team. Some of the big names in the squad included Artur Bril, the 2010 Youth Olympic Games Champion, 2008 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Enrico KĂślling, 2005 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Alexander Povernov as well as a host of National Champions from Germany, Denmark and Ireland. The team was based in Leipzig, a city steeped in sporting history.

BANGKOK ELEPHANTS The last addition to the competition was the Thai Franchise, with the help of the Thailand Boxing Association, the Bangkok Elephants, which worked hard to get its team together and realise its dream of joining WSB. After dealing with severe disruption caused by widespread flooding, the Franchise overcame this human tragedy and showed real courage to get their season up and running.

Their squad included 2008 Olympic gold and silver medallists Manus Boonjamnong and Worapoj Petchkoom and due to the natural disaster in the country, they could only get their campaign underway on Sunday 18 December when they faced the Los Angeles Matadors in the USA. This match was also an opportunity to organise a charity event and raise funds for SOS Children’s Villages who were heavily involved in helping children in need in Thailand.

WSB YEARBOOK: NEW FRANCHISES - 15

OFFICIAL DRAW

Held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 31 July 2011, the draw once again demonstrated the continued growth in global appeal of the World Series of Boxing with the announcement of a new intercontinental competition format for the 2011-2012 season.

The previous regional conferences were abandoned in favour of two intercontinental groups, into which the twelve teams were drawn after having been divided to ensure a fair regional representation in each.

A separate draw was then made to determine the position of each team within its group and thus determined the full competition schedule for the season. Within each group, the teams would meet each other once at home and once away, giving a total of ten matches for each team.

The top four teams in each group would go through to the play-offs, with the top team in one group facing the fourth place team in the other group and the second place team in one group taking on the third place team in the other.

In the new season, it was decided that in the event of a draw after two legs from the quarter-final stages onwards, there would be a deciding bout to determine the winning team, a sudden death bout. The draw also determined the weight categories in which these deciding bouts would be contested.

GROUP A

ASTANA ARLANS

BANGKOK ELEPHANTS

LOS ANGELES MATADORS

MILANO THUNDER

MOSCOW DYNAMO

MUMBAI FIGHTERS

GROUP B

BEIJING DRAGONS

BAKU FIRES

ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS

MEXICO CITY GUERREROS

PARIS UNITED

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS

WSB YEARBOOK: OFFICIAL DRAW - 17

SEASON SCHEDULE GROUP A WEEK

1

2

3

4

5

DATE

HOME

AWAY

Cancelled

Bangkok

Moscow

11.11.2011

Mumbai

Milan

13.11.2011

Los Angeles

18.11.2011

WEEK

DATE

HOME

AWAY

13.01.2012

Moscow

Bangkok

13.01.2012

Milan

Mumbai

Astana

14.01.2012

Astana

Los Angeles

Moscow

Mumbai

20.01.2012

Mumbai

Moscow

Cancelled

Astana

Bangkok

21.01.2012

Bangkok

Astana

18.11.2011

Milan

Los Angeles

22.01.2012

Los Angeles

Milan

Cancelled

Bangkok

Mumbai

03.02.2012

Mumbai

Bangkok

02.12.2011

Milan

Astana

03.02.2012

Astana

Milan

04.12.2011

Los Angeles

Moscow

03.02.2012

Moscow

Los Angeles

Cancelled

Bangkok

Milan

10.02.2012

Moscow

Astana

09.12.2011

Milan

Astana

10.02.2012

Milan

Bangkok

09.12.2011

Mumbai

Los Angeles

Cancelled

Los Angeles

Mumbai

16.12.2011

Mumbai

Astana

17.02.2012

Bangkok

Los Angeles

16.11.2011

Milan

Moscow

17.02.2012

Astana

Mumbai

18.11.2011

Los Angeles

Bangkok

17.02.2012

Moscow

Milan

6

7

8

9

10

SEASON SCHEDULE GROUP B WEEK

1

2

3

4

5

DATE

HOME

AWAY

11.11.2011

Paris

Istanbul

12.11.2011

Baku

Beijing

12.11.2011

Leipzig

18.11.2011

WEEK

DATE

HOME

AWAY

12.01.2012

Mexico City

Leipzig

13.01.2012

Istanbul

Paris

Mexico City

14.01.2012

Beijing

Baku

Istanbul

Baku

20.01.2012

Paris

Mexico City

Cancelled

Beijing

Leipzig

21.01.2012

Baku

Istanbul

19.11.2011

Mexico City

Paris

21.01.2012

Leipzig

Beijing

02.12.2011

Paris

Baku

03.02.2012

Istanbul

Leipzig

03.12.2011

Beijing

Mexico City

Cancelled

Mexico City

Beijing

03.12.2011

Leipzig

Istanbul

04.02.2012

Baku

Paris

08.12.2011

Mexico City

Istanbul

10.02.2012

Istanbul

Mexico City

10.12.2011

Baku

Leipzig

10.02.2012

Leipzig

Baku

01.02.2012

Paris

Beijing

21.02.2012

Beijing

Paris

16.12.2011

Istanbul

Beijing

17.02.2012

Paris

Leipzig

16.11.2011

Leipzig

Paris

17.02.2012

Mexico City

Baku

17.11.2011

Baku

Mexico City

22.02.2012

Beijing

Istanbul

6

7

8

9

10

WSB YEARBOOK: SEASON SCHEDULE - 19

BOXERS’ DRAFT

The World Series of Boxing draft was held during the rest day of the AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011. Fifteen months after the first international draft was held in London, where 87 international boxers were chosen to fill the required quota of non-national squad members, 21 more were again drafted from a list of 67 available fighters representing almost 30 countries from all five continents.

The teams satisfied with the current level of their respective squads only chose to make minor adjustments to their team rosters.

Amongst the 21 boxers drafted, there were World Champions, Youth Olympic Games Champions, World Youth Champions, World Junior Champions, Continental Champions and many National Champions.

The draft was presided by Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, AIBA President and WSB Board Chairman, in front of the National Federations and the international press.

The following 21 boxers were chosen by each Franchise for the 2011-2012 season:

FIRST ROUND Venky’s Mumbai Fighters - Abbos Atoyev (UZB Middleweight 73kg) Leipzig Leopards - Balazs Backsai (HUN - Middleweight 73kg) Beijing Dragons - Joseph Parker (NZL - Heavyweight 91kg) Dynamo Moscow - Anvar Yusunov (TJK - Bantamweight 54kg) Istanbul Bosphorus - decided to pass Mexico City Guerreros - Tervel Pulev (HUN - Heavyweight 91kg) Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder - Veaceslav Gojan (MDA - Bantamweight 54kg) Los Angeles Matadors - Siarhei Karneyev (BLR - Light Heavyweight 85kg) Baku Fires - Madadi Nagzibekov (TJK - Lightweight 61 kg) Astana Arlans - Joe Ward (IRL - Light Heavyweight 85kg) Paris United - Ljubomir Marjanovic (SRB - Lightweight 61kg)

SECOND ROUND

FOURTH ROUND

Venky’s Mumbai Fighters - Damian Hooper (AUS - Light Heavyweight 85kg) Leipzig Leopards - Aleksandr Riscan (MDA - Bantamweight 54kg) Beijing Dragons - Mirzokit Abdullayev (UZB - Light Heavyweight 85kg) Dynamo Moscow - decided to pass Istanbul Bosphorus - decided to pass Mexico City Guerreros - Hurshid Tajibaev (UZB Lightweight 61kg) Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder - Romaric Ngoulla Tangoum (CMR - Heavyweight 91kg) Los Angeles Matadors - Zaal Kvachatadze (GEO Middleweight 73kg) Baku Fires - decided to pass Astana Arlans - decided to pass Paris United - Luke Boyd (AUS - Bantamweight 54kg)

Venky’s Mumbai Fighters - Sardor Begaliyev (UZB - Light Heavyweight 85kg) Leipzig Leopards - decided to pass Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder - decided to pass Los Angeles Matadors - Levan Guledani (GEO - Light Heavyweight 85kg)

THIRD ROUND Venky’s Mumbai Fighters - Patrick Gallagher (IRL Middleweight 73kg) Leipzig Leopards - decided to pass Beijing Dragons - decided to pass Dynamo Moscow - decided to pass Mexico City Guerreros - decided to pass Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder - decided to pass Los Angeles Matadors - decided to pass Baku Fires - decided to pass Astana Arlans - decided to pass Paris United - decided to pass

FIFTH ROUND Venky’s Mumbai Fighters - Raymond Moylett (IRL Lightweight 61kg) Los Angeles Matadors - decided to pass DRAFT PROCEDURE The draft begins with a draw between the new Franchises to determine the order of picks. The remaining draft order is then based on the previous season’s ranking.

The first round of the draft starts with each Franchise having the opportunity to choose a boxer from the ‘Boxer Draft List’. Each taking turns, the Franchises have a strict maximum of five minutes to choose an athlete per round. Franchises are allowed to pass their turn.

Once the Franchise representative announces the drafted boxer, the next team repeats the process. Surpassing the allocated time means a forfeit of the round.

The draft ends once all Franchises have passed their turn twice.

WSB YEARBOOK: BOXERS’ DRAFT - 21

FRANCHISES

YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: FRANCHISES - 23

ASTANA ARLANS FRANCHISE, GROUP A The Astana Arlans is owned by the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation (KBF). The KBF is the sport’s national governing body and unites 14 regional federations with a total of around 20,000 registered boxers. The team is named after the alpha male wolf - the leader of the pack - an animal that has been admired and respected for centuries by the nomads of the Great Steppe for its intelligence, strength and courage.

As a national governing body, KBF is responsible for all the administration, development and promotion of amateur boxing throughout Kazakhstan. KBF is a non-profit organisation and is thus overseen by a board of directors.

The Astana Arlans team is managed by a dedicated team of staff under General Director Bolat Mankenov, with Head Coach Beibut Yeszhanov overseeing the sporting side of things.

One of the star teams of the WSB first season when the Kazakh Franchise reached the WSB Team Final, they began season two as one of the favourites, after recruiting 2011 WSB Individual Champion Abdelhafid Benchabla of Algeria to add to their already impressive roster of boxers.

Drawn in tough Group A, Astana Arlans had a stuttering start to their campaign, losing to Los Angeles Matadors and Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder early on.

However, in week five, they defeated Dynamo Moscow right at the death in one of the stand-out fixtures of the group stages. From there, they went on to a four match winning streak to qualify comfortably for the quarterfinals.

In the first round of the knock-out stages, they faced the tough Mexico City Guerreros and battled hard to earn

their place in the last four with two difficult 3:2 wins with star men Kanat Slam and Benchabla making the difference in the return fixture.

In the semi-finals, it was the clash of the Eastern titans with two more installments of their intriguing rivalry with Russian outfit Dynamo Moscow. In the home fixture, local hero, Lightweight (61kg) orthodox fighter Merey Akshalov continued to impress, recording his fifth victory of the season by defeating accomplished Belarusian Vazgen Safaryants as the team recorded a 3:2 victory.

Taking a slender lead to the Russian capital, Astana Arlans’ big names were unable to make an impact with Yerzhan Mussafirov, Slam and Benchabla all succumbing to defeats as the team lost heavily to Dynamo Moscow who progressed to the final.

It was another near-miss for the team from the capital of Kazakhstan, but they provided some memorable moments throughout the campaign. Expect the team to come out all guns blazing as they seek to make it third time lucky in 2013.

HEAD COACH: Beibut YESZHANOV Tough and focus, Beibut Yeszhanov took the Franchise twice to the play-offs and led them through the Team Final in 2010/2011 (lost 4:6 against Paris United) and the two-leg semi-finals in 2011/2012, where the Kazakh were defeated by Dynamo Moscow (3:7).

WSB YEARBOOK: ASTANA ARLANS - 25

ASTANA ARLANS FRANCHISE, GROUP A

ASTANA ARLANS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

ISMAIL-AKHUNOV Khabibulla

AKSHALOV Merey

BAIMATOV Khussan

AHMEDOV Ramzjon

BERNATH Istvan

RAKHIMZHANOV Mirzhan

BASHENOV Samat

BAIRKHANOV Miras

BENCHABLA Abdelhafid

BOULOUDINATS Chouaib

SULTONOV Rafikjon

MUSSAFIROV Yerzhan

SLAM Kanat

USTEMBAYEV Daniyar

MYRSTAYAV Ruslan

TOKBAYEV Daniyar

YEGIZEKOV Adlet

SVAYEV Rustam

WSB YEARBOOK: ASTANA ARLANS - 27

BANGKOK ELEPHANTS FRANCHISE, GROUP A The Bangkok Franchise, which was principally established by the Thailand Boxing Association, faced tremendous difficulties to overcome the natural disaster which affected a total of 63 of Thailand’s 77 provinces during the first four weeks of the WSB season. Supply chains had been disrupted countrywide, buildings were destroyed and infrastructure damaged by widespread flooding. It was also a human tragedy for the boxers and Franchise staff who lost their homes. The WSB Headquarters Office had been monitoring the situation on a daily basis and worked closely with the Thailand Boxing Association to evaluate when the Franchise operation could resume and by when they could join the second season competition.

Bangkok were unable to begin their season until week five of competition, but had continued to show great commitment to get their season up and running despite a natural disaster of such devastating magnitude.

The Bangkok Elephants put a team together which included Olympic gold and silver medallists Manus Boonjamnong and Worapoj Petchkoom and were ready to make their bow in the competition against the Los Angeles Matadors on Sunday 18 December at the Music Box in the heart of Hollywood, USA. For this match, a charity operation was organised to help SOS Children’s Villages and raise funds for children in need in Thailand.

The Thai Franchise was drawn in the tough Group A and after beginning the season late, they found themselves struggling to get results. After the winter break, Bangkok Elephants battled Dynamo Moscow, Astana Arlans, Venky’s Mumbai Fighters and the mighty Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder in quick succession and could not find a way to snatch a win from these four top teams. Unable to qualify for the knock-out stages, the team from Thailand bowed out of the competition after recording their first win, a hard-fought 3:2 victory in the home fixture versus Los Angeles Matadors at the packed Pattaya Boxing Club.

WSB YEARBOOK: BANGKOK ELEPHANTS - 29

BANGKOK ELEPHANTS FRANCHISE, GROUP A

BANGKOK ELEPHANTS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

JUMROENSAN Satjapron

MASUK Wuttichai

ARTWICHIAN Anong

DAVIS Blayne Thomas

ANTONIUK Anatolii

PETCHKOOM Worapoj

PHONGPHIRA Suphamongkhon

BOONJUMNONG Manus

KUZMIN Sergei

RAHMANI Kamel

PETCHMANEE Apichet

PROMMAKA Egkachai

O’MELEY Troy Trevor

MILITOPOULOS Ioannis

YEPMOU MENDOUO Blaise

RAHOU Abdelmalek

SUKKHUM Kriangkai

THATHI Donchai

SUMPHAORON Sitichai

WSB YEARBOOK: BANGKOK ELEPHANTS - 31

LOS ANGELES MATADORS FRANCHISE, GROUP A The Matadors won the Americas Conference in the inaugural WSB season and hoped that after narrowly losing to the Astana Arlans in the playoffs last season, they would return stronger second time around. From its base in Hollywood, California, a star-studded team began life in the ultra-competitive Group A with a victory against Astana Arlans as Team Captain and USA Olympic legend Raushee Warren made the difference in the final bout of the match.

But that early season promise failed to materialise into victories as the US Franchise suffered three successive losses before a 5:0 win against the debuting Bangkok Elephants team saw them remain within distance of the pace-setters in the group. The end of the winter-break did not see an upturn in their fortunes as they lost to Astana Arlans in Kazakhstan and apart from a quality

win over Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder in week seven, it was all defeats as they failed to reach the playoffs.

There were few bright moments in a season that had promised so much but failed to deliver with Raushee Warren continually showing his pedigree to preserve his unbeaten record and Belarusian Siarhei Karneyeu confirming his potential on the international stage after his bronze medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011 with three victories in as many matches.

HEAD COACH: Manuel ROBLES Los Angeles Matadors Head Coach “Super� Manny Robles has been coaching for fifteen years but confesses that boxing has been in his blood since he was a child. After he retired from boxing, he felt that coaching was the best way to stay involved and give back to the sport that he loves. Robles worked with Reggie Johnson when he fought for the undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship of the World against Roy Jones.

WSB YEARBOOK: LOS ANGELES MATADORS - 33

LOS ANGELES MATADORS FRANCHISE, GROUP A

LOS ANGELES MATADORS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

GONZALEZ Joet

FOWLER Eric Michel

GAUSHA Terrell Maurice

GUILEDANI Levan

ARJAOUI Mohammed

IVAN Figurenka

MALKOV Leonid

KAZBEK Gamadarov

KARNEYEU Siarhei

IMOESIRI David Aaron

MARTINEZ Fernando Daniel

SHEROV Mirtilek

KVACHATADZE Zaal

KATIONOV Mikhail

TORRES Javier Jose

SANDOVAL Edwin

WILLIAMS Raynell Deshawn

LAMOUR Russell

SHABAZZ Sijuola

TURNER Sean

QUIGLEY Jason Robert

SHABRANSKYY Vyacheslav

YAN Sudzilouski

WARREN Raushee Muhumad

WSB YEARBOOK: LOS ANGELES MATADORS - 35

DOLCE & GABBANA MILANO THUNDER FRANCHISE, GROUP A The Italian outfit really added style to the competition in season two, bringing a sense of bravado to proceedings, backed by a quality set-up and an exciting array of talented fighters. After finishing the regular season just two points behind eventual winners Paris United in last season’s Group stages, Milano were determined to make it to the showpiece final this time around and after reaching that objective, they had their eyes firmly set on that much coveted WSB Team Trophy.

They started the season in irrepressible fashion, looking invincible in the early stages as they won their first six matches and stormed to the top of Group A. Although they were pegged back by their final opponents Dynamo Moscow, who ended the regular season by winning the group, there were plenty of positives for the Thunder to take into the knock-out stages.

In the quarter-finals, they were given the opportunity of avenging their conquerors from the previous season as they faced reigning champions Paris United. The French team made home advantage count in the first leg as they brought a slender lead back to the Mediolanum Forum in Italy.

Milano were in unforgiving mood on their territory, as they dominated to record a resounding win to ensure a semi-final showdown with Group B table toppers Baku Fires.

Baku represented their biggest challenge to date and Milano defied the odds to win 5:0 at home. The pivotal moment in that match was the Middleweight contest that saw Irishman William McLaughlin mount the comeback of the season as he overturned a two round deficit to triumph. With the wind in their sails, they won all of their remaining bouts to take a huge lead with them on the travels to Azerbaijan for the return leg. That match was then just a formality.

The victory in the Azeri capital paved the way for a sensational showing during the WSB Team Final at the ExCeL London on 2 May 2012 as their mix of power and poise was enough to see off the challenge of Dynamo Moscow to end the season as Champions.

Fully endorsed by the Italian Boxing Federation and being sponsored by the Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, the team has been synonymous with glamour, which has attracted a huge fan base, not only in Italy, but all around the world. Closely followed by influential media partners La Gazzetta dello Sport, as well as being broadcasted by SportItalia, the team really set the standard in the competition. The business mastermind behind these associations has been Team General Manager Paolo Taveggia.

HEAD COACH: Francesco Damiani His pedigree speaks for itself, as boxer he took silver medals at both the 1982 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Munich and at the 1984 Olympic Games. He was also crowned European Gold Medallist in Tampere (Finland) in 1981 and in Varna (Bulgaria) in 1983. He fought 140 bouts as an amateur before turning professional in 1985.

He fought 34 times, with a record of 32 wins and 2 losses.

As a coach, he has lead boxers to one bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, one silver medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007, two gold medals at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Milano 2009 and one gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

WSB YEARBOOK: MILANO THUNDER - 37

DOLCE & GABBANA MILANO THUNDER FRANCHISE, GROUP A

DOLCE & GABBANA MILANO THUNDER SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

GOJAN Veaceslav

CARRASCO HERRERA Juan Javier

ALVARO SANTOS DE LIMA

Pedro

DUARTE LIMA Rafael

NGOULA TANGOUM Romarick

PARRINELLO Jahyn Vittorio

STANKOVIC Branimir

DEREVYANCHENKO Sergiy

GRISUNINS Nikolajs

OLAS Michal

PICARDI Vincenzo

VALENTINO Domenico

MCLAUGHLIN William Martin

GROGUHE Ludovic

RUSSO Clemente

VOLKOV Vitaliy

VARGA Miklos

MUNNO Raffaele

SZELLO Imre

ZIMMERMAN Gilton Benjey

WSB YEARBOOK: MILANO THUNDER - 39

DYNAMO MOSCOW FRANCHISE, GROUP A Dynamo Moscow was born after the rebranding of season one’s Kremlin Bears. Dynamo-Moscow boxing team was formed in 2011 to replace the season one Kremlin Bears Russian Franchise, under the auspices of Russian Central Boxing Club.

Backed by the world-famous Dynamo Association (Club), the biggest and the oldest sport entity in Russia which runs 70 sport disciplines, and with at the helm of the team Stepan Lendyel, the team’s Managing Director, a keen studier of the sport who believes hard work gets your results, a collective mentality was instilled where the team came above all else.

Group A table-toppers Dynamo Moscow went slightly under the radar in the first few weeks of the season but found themselves sharing the top of the leader board after four consecutive wins. They then travelled to Kazakhstan to face Astana Arlans in the clash of the Eastern titans and almost snatched victory in a real nail bitter of an encounter. That set-back and a subsequent loss to Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder in week five gave them renewed focus and they came back from the winter break to record five victories.

In the quarter-finals, the team from the Russian capital was clinical against Germany-based Leipzig Leopards and in the semis showcased why they had been feared by opposition throughout the season. In the penultimate round of the competition, they once again faced Astana Arlans, who had invested heavily in their squad in the hope of bettering their result of beaten finalist from last season. In the first leg of that semi-final, in Astana, Dynamo Moscow put on a solid performance to return to their venue with a one fight disadvantage. On their home turf, they were irresistible as they completely

dominated their opposition, who had in their line-up three of their best boxers.

Their stand-out boxers were Russian Lightweight Adlan Abdurashidov, who qualified for the WSB Individual Championships after topping the rankings in his weight category following an impressive regular season. Bantamweight Vladimir Nikitin was another who grew stronger as the competition progressed and who delighted fans with his positive approach and nifty footwork.

Even though they fell short and ended the campaign as runners-up to Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder, they impressed on all fronts and they will be amongst the favourites for season three.

HEAD COACH: Eduard KRAVTSOV Head coach Eduard Kravtsov was the one to lead the team throughout the season, constructing fantastic training schedules that saw Dynamo Moscow suffer only two defeats throughout the whole campaign.

WSB YEARBOOK: MOSCOW DYNAMO - 41

DYNAMO MOSCOW FRANCHISE, GROUP A

DYNAMO MOSCOW SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

ABZALIMOV Eduard

ABDURASHIDOV Adlan

BANDARENKA Vitali

CHELES Vladimir

BABANIN Maxim

NIKITIN Vladimir

HUSAINOV Eduard

GAZIZOV Maxim

GVOZDYK Oleksandr

KALCHUGIN Sergey

YUNUSOV Anvar

POLYANSKIY Dimitriy

IVANOV Alexandr

SHVED Danil

KUDUKHOV Vitaly

YAKUSHEV Eduard

MAKHMUDOV Arslanbek

SAFARYANTS Vazgen

WSB YEARBOOK: MOSCOW DYNAMO - 43

VENKY’S MUMBAI FIGHTERS FRANCHISE, GROUP A A team created in cricket-mad India, the Venky’s Mumbai Fighters captured the imagination of a whole new legion of fans with their performances in their debut WSB season. The Franchise was built around a core of national boxers with the aim to introduce a sport to a whole new audience. Drawn in Group A, they faced the prospect early on of battling it out with some of the very best teams in the competition.

It was difficult for them to compete against the experienced teams around them but the 5:0 win versus Los Angeles Matadors in week four was the confidence booster that the team needed before the winter-break.

However, the superior quality in their main rivals’ squads in Group A meant that they barely scraped through to the knock-out stages.

In the quarter-finals, they faced an unbeaten Baku Fires which had won every single one of their matches in the group stages, but undaunted Venky’s Mumbai Fighters stunned the visitors in the first leg to inflict a first defeat of the season to the Azeri Franchise. Charly Suarez and Uaine Fa, two of the team’s leading lights, were the chief instigators as the Indian team did the business in front of their home fans to win 3:2. They lost the return fixture but learnt a great deal.

With huge market potential and with raucous support, the Venky’s Mumbai Fighters will come back for the third season with a much stronger set-up which promises to see them challenge for honours come the end of the campaign.

HEAD COACH: Shiv KUMAR PAL The renowned Mr Pal has become synonymous with Indian boxing after 25 years of coaching various levels of the national team. He was joined by Pro Boxing’s Joe Clough as Technical Director to bring the best out of the WSB Boxing Franchise.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Joe CLOUGH Joe Clough has coached World Champions such as Sugar Ray, Johnny Bumphus, Rocky Lockridge and Leo Randolph among others. He also was the head coach of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Club in Santa Monica.

For nearly 20 years now, Clough has been coaching Asian teams working with Thailand, Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia, Malaysia to name but a few.

WSB YEARBOOK: MUMBAI FIGHTERS - 45

VENKY’S MUMBAI FIGHTERS FRANCHISE, GROUP A

VENKY’S MUMBAI FIGHTERS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

BIDHURI Gaurav

KUMAR Akhil

GALLAGHER Patrick Daniel

CALIC Marko

FA Uaine

ILNYTSKYY Ivan

PRASAD Diwakar

JABŁONSKI Tomasz

CHARNABAYEU Leanid

KOON III Paul Gene

KUMAR Jitender

SUAREZ Charly

JANGRA Mandeep

KUMAR Rahul

KUMAR Krishan

KUMAR Vipin

VARMA Siddharth Ravindra

SNIGOUR Konstantin

MELNYK Sergii

MUNTEAN Mihail

VRGOC Sanjin-Pol

SINGH Jasveer

RANGI Sumit

SHEROV Mirbek

SINGH Balbir

RAWLINS Trent Anthony Ralph

WSB YEARBOOK: MUMBAI FIGHTERS - 47

BAKU FIRES FRANCHISE, GROUP B The Azeri Franchise, backed by Gilan Holding, started their campaign in Group B in barnstorming fashion. Baku Fires were simply irresistible throughout the group stages, winning all ten of their matches. The biggest test of their credentials in the first half of the season came with a visit to the reigning 2011 WSB Team Champions Paris United in week three. Announcing they meant business, Baku Fires were sublime in their win against the French outfit, setting the standard for the rest of the campaign.

Well drilled and calculating, their set-up was pure quality, analysing every detail, planning and preparation to the most minute of details ensured that Baku Fires were ready for any challenge that came their way. They topped Group B with ten victories from ten matches and many pundits predicted they would steam roller their opponents in the knock-out stages.

They were however stunned in the first leg of their quarter-final showdown by Venky’s Mumbai Fighters, with the Indian Franchise prevailing 3:2. The Azeri team came back in typical style to win the home return fixture 5:0 and progressed to the last four. In the semi-finals, they clashed with the stylish Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder team. To the surprise and despair of Baku Fires, the Italian outfit was imperious at their home ground and after a five star showing that saw them prevail 5:0, they left the Azeri Franchise with too much to do in the second leg and Baku Fires exited the competition at the semi-final stages for the second successive year.

For the season three, they will use the heart-break of this year as fuel for motivation, so expect them to come back with a bang and be once again one of the major contenders for the WSB crown.

HEAD COACH: Gamzat AGAYEV One of the most famous boxing specialist in Azerbaijan.

He is best known as a manager of former WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov. In the first two WSB seasons, Agayev led his team to the semi-finals when Baku Fires was twice defeated by the Champions: Paris United in 2010/2011 (4:6) and Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder this year (3:7).

WSB YEARBOOK: BAKU FIRES - 49

BAKU FIRES FRANCHISE, GROUP B

BAKU FIRES SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

HEAVY

ABDULHAMIDOV Magomed

AVZALSHOEV Oraz

ALIYEV Osman

ABDULKHALIGOV Askhab

MIGITINOV Soltan

ABDULLAYEV Abdulkadir

POYATSYKA Denys

CHALABIYEV Javid

GRIVACHEV Semen

LAPIN Sergiy

ALIYEV Rabgad

MURTUZALIYEV Azamat

ALLAHVERDIYEV Ilgar

SHABANOV Farid

GERMAKHANOV Gairbek

ISAYEV Isa

MURSALOV Heybulla

HUSEYNLI Vatan

ATAKISHIYEV Zamig

KURBANOV Magomed

NAGZIBEKOV Madadi

NURUDZINAU Mahamed

MAGOMEDAU Ramazan

MEDZHIDOV Magomedrasul

NYAMBAYAR Tugstogt

PKHAKADZE Koba

VESIALOU Mikalai

MAMMADOV Teymur

MURTUZALIYEV Haji

WSB YEARBOOK: BAKU FIRES - 51

BEIJING DRAGONS FRANCHISE, GROUP B Under the umbrella of the WSB and with the support of the China Boxing Association, Beijing Rocfly Boxing Club has been in charge of the organisation, operations and promotion of the WSB in China. The goal has been to provide extensive development opportunities for boxers, support the China Boxing Federation and promote the sport of boxing in China. But unfortunately the Franchise has faced extreme difficulties by having to compete in Macau.

With Zhimin Wang, 2011 WSB Lightweight Individual Champion, in their ranks, many expected Beijing Dragons to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season but their win at home against Mexico City Guerreros in week three was a false dawn as they tasted defeat in all subsequent matches up until the ultimate fixture of the group phase when they beat Istanbul Bosphorus. As a

result, they finished bottom of Group B. Hopefully the WSB Season 3 will bring more joy to the Dragons when they return to mainland China.

HEAD COACH: Zhu XIAOJUN Born on 15 October 1968, Zhu Xiaojun started boxing when he was 15. He became member of the national team in 1988 and won the National Boxing Championships only one year later. In 1991, he started his coaching career, before he was named in the Chinese national team in 1996. Xiaojun has been leading the Beijing Dragons since the first WSB season in 2010/2011.

Under his tough training methods, Zhimin Wang won the Lightweight Champion Belt at the 2010/2011 WSB Individual Championships.

WSB YEARBOOK: BEIJING DRAGONS - 53

BEIJING DRAGONS FRANCHISE, GROUP B

BEIJING DRAGONS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

DU Yuyu

DENG Zhengjia

DUJIC Matej

ABDULLAYEV Mirzohidjon

ABDULLAYEV Sardor

MAI Qingxian

LIU Xiaohu

LIU Wei

SHI Yunlong

HUANG Tianwei

XIA Lingjie

WANG Zhimin

SHANG Dongxu

WANG Jianzheng

PARKER Joseph Dennis

WSB YEARBOOK: BEIJING DRAGONS - 55

ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS FRANCHISE, GROUP B Backed by the impressive set-up of the Turkish Boxing Federation, Istanbul Bosphorus was a new addition to the second WSB season. Based in the historical city that bridges the European and Asian continents, the team boasted some serious talent in their ranks.

Early season confidence quickly disappeared after successive narrow defeats to Paris United and Baku Fires as the Turkish Franchise struggled against the established teams. In week five, they managed to get their first points on the board after a solid home victory over Beijing Dragons and had seemed to have turned a corner.

That victory before the winter break galvanised the squad and they came back with a quality win against Paris United in week six. Although they were comprehensively beaten by Baku Fires in the following fixture, their spirit was not dampened as they overwhelmed Leipzig

Leopards to record a third win of the season. A full strength Mexico City Guerreros however dashed their late surge for quarter-final qualification and they exited the competition at the group stages.

HEAD COACH: Seyfullah DUMLUPINAR Dumlup覺nar won several medals as a boxer for the national team; however, he had to retire at the age of 21, in an early stage of his career due to an injury. Following his retirement, Dumlup覺nar started his coaching career in 1992 and had trained 15 boxers for the national team. He participated in the World and European Championships, Mediterranean Games and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and won over 20 rostrum places with athletes under his coaching. In recent years, his 10 boxers have been selected for the national team.

WSB YEARBOOK: ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS - 57

ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS FRANCHISE, GROUP B

ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

DÜNDAR Hüseyin

AYDIN Bünyamin

KARADENIZ Sefa

BEGALIEV Sardorbek

ACIK Yusuf

DURSUN Abdullah

GULEC Unal

KHOSITASHVILI Jaba

DEGIRMENCI Serhat

SIVKO Oleksiy

SAKAL Aydin

GÜRGEN Kerem

ÖZKAL Erol

MUZAFFER Bahram

ZUYEV Viktar

JOYCE David Oliver

SAYAK Caner

KARSLIOGLU Ural

WSB YEARBOOK: ISTANBUL BOSPHORUS - 59

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS FRANCHISE, GROUP B The German Franchise was an intriguing one with seemingly the perfect blend of experience and talented prospects on their roster. A solid set-up backed by the National Boxing Federation and a savvy coaching staff, Leipzig Leopards began their season in dominant fashion, recording three successive victories as they topped the Group B table going into week four.

After being overwhelmed by Baku Fires in the fourth outing of the campaign, the German team’s form dipped dramatically as they suffered two further defeats. They managed to stop this sequence with a thrashing of Beijing Dragons in week seven but followed that with another series of three successive defeats as they limped into the quarter-finals.

That fourth place in Group B pitted them against Russian table toppers Dynamo Moscow in the last eight and over two-legs, Leipzig Leopards offered little resistance as their WSB campaign was curtailed short. Clearly unsatisfied with their performances, a whole new setup is expected for season three, with some promising names to be added to the squad.

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS

HEAD COACH: Valentin SILAGHI The 54 year old native Romanian started boxing at the age of 15 in 1972. He won the silver medal at the 1979 European Championships in Cologne and the bronze medal in the European Championships in 1981.

At the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, Silaghi won the bronze medal. After the 1982 World Championships in Munich, he stayed in Germany where he started working for the German Amateur Boxing Federation (DABV), becoming a coach in 1985 and being promoted through the ranks to become national coach in 1990.

From 2006 to 2009, he coached professional boxers and in 2010, Silaghi returned to the German Federation and has been working as Head National Coach since then.

During his career, he has overseen the development of famous boxers such as Sven Ottke and Dariusz Michalczewski.

WSB YEARBOOK: LEIPZIG LEOPARDS - 61

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS FRANCHISE, GROUP B

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

BEBLIK Ronny

BRIL Artur Sergeevic

DANYO Stephen Henry Bill

EGAN Kenneth Michael

TAIRI Bukurim

BRECHLIN Eric

CEYLAN Dennis Villy

BURHARD Eugen

HÄRTEL Stefan

KÖLLING ENRICO Enrico

ZEUGE Tyron Marco

GRUNER Philipp

WALTH Edgar

HARUTYUNYAN Robert Aramovic

MARUTYAN Arayk

KÜNZEL Kevin

PFEIFER Erik

KASSEM Rashid Khaled

RADOVAN Denis Robert

MIKHEL Sergey

POVERNOV Alexander

WOJCICKI Patrick Thomas

MULLENBERG Peter

SHEEHAN Cornelius

WSB YEARBOOK: LEIPZIG LEOPARDS - 63

MEXICO CITY GUERREROS FRANCHISE, GROUP B With a boxing heritage of more than 100 years, Mexico has forged a strong international image as a country which develops quality boxers. The Mexico City Guerreros team has been managed independently by Gerardo Saldivar with the support of Televisa Deportes Network (a cable television network which provides 24/7 sport events to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic) and the Mexican Boxing Federation for the past two seasons.

After narrowly missing out on top spot in the Americas Conference group in season one, Mexico City Guerreros were determined to make their mark on season two.

With some exciting recruits in their ranks, many pundits expected them to challenge for honours to the end of the campaign.

Form was a bit erratic in the the first half of their regular season in Group B, struggling to find any consistency with three victories on their home ground, dubbed fortress Foro Polanco, and as many defeats on their travels. Three successive victories in week seven, eight and nine however saw them turn the tide and cement second place in the table as they progressed in style to the quarter-finals. Bantamweight Elias Emigdio and Lightweight Juan Romero both went unbeaten during the group stages and as a result qualified for the WSB Individual Championships.

In the last eight, the team faced Astana Arlans and gave them an all mighty fright in the first leg after narrowly losing in Kazakhstan. Home advantage for the return fixture at Foro Polanco should have given them the edge but unfortunately it was the visitors who prevailed and Mexico City Guerreros, as a result, missed out on a place in the semi-finals.

With steady progress over two seasons and a team of boxers learning fast, season three should see the Mexican Franchise rival the top teams.

HEAD COACH: Francisco BONILLA Bonilla won the first Olympic medal for Mexico since 1988 with Christian Bejarano at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (bronze). His next achievements were a Pan American Games gold medal with Carlos Cuadras in Rio de Janeiro 2007 and AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships titles with Oscar Valdez (57 kg) and Oscar Molina (69 kg) in Guadalajara 2008. Bonilla also qualified three boxers for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Oscar Valdez (54 kg), Arturo Santos (57 kg) and Francisco Vargas (60 kg). In 2009, he won a bronze medal for Mexico with Oscar Valdez (57 kg) at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Milan. He is the Head Coach of the national team since eight years.

WSB YEARBOOK: MEXICO CITY GUERREROS - 65

MEXICO CITY GUERREROS FRANCHISE, GROUP B

MEXICO CITY GUERREROS SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

ALAMEDA LOPEZ Aaron

ALVAREZ DIAZ Fernando

CABRERA VERGARA Marvin

KATENDE Kennedy

GARCIA CORTEZ Omar David

AVILA JUAREZ Braulio

GUTIERREZ AMEZCUA Angel Jordan

MANEV Mladen Iliyanov

MISKOVIC Bojan

HEREDIA ORRANTIA Mario Guadalupe

EMIGDIO Elias

HIDALGO ESTRADA Ramon Isaias

MERCADO CANTERO Juan Antonio

ORTEGA CASTRO Francisco Javier

HIRACHETA MARTINEZ Juan Isidro

ROMERO MARIN Juan Pablo

MYTROFANOV Dmytro

TOJIBAEV Hurshid

WILLIAMS William Carroll

QUINONEZ TENORIO Jorge Wasington

WSB YEARBOOK: MEXICO CITY GUERREROS - 67

PARIS UNITED FRANCHISE, GROUP B Paris United was set up by Olympic Champion Brahim Asloum (Sydney 2000), in conjunction with skilled professionals specialised in sport events and PR management. Asloum had been charged with managing boxers’ careers and identifying new talent with the help of the French Boxing Federation. Asloum’s ultimate objective has been to enhance young people’s interest in boxing so as to increase membership and to create and develop a boxing academy.

Paris United overcame several tough obstacles and defied the odds to claim the WSB Team Trophy in season one. With their new found status as the top team in the competition, the reigning champions could not find their rhythm or any type of consistency in their second campaign. Unpredictable in terms of performance, the French outfit was not living up to its billing with three wins from their first five encounters in Group B. The winter break did not usher in a new focus as three defeats on the trot putting them in danger of not making the play-offs. Two victories in the last two fixtures of the regular season saw them progress into the quarter-finals.

In the knock-out phase, Paris United faced the favourites Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder and impressive in the first leg with a well taken 3:2 victory. The return match in Italy however was lost heavily and the pride of France exited the competition, relinquishing their title in the process.

Season three will see the return to the fold of many Olympians and Asloum has promised that the team will be taken for granted as they seek to recapture their first season trophy.

HEAD COACH: John DOVI Frenchman John Dovi, born 2 January 1973, has been part of the coaching set-up of the French Boxing Federation since 2008 and following some quality results by his boxers in European and worldwide competition, he was integrated into the Paris United team from season one to lend his expertise before being promoted from assistant-coach to Head Coach for season two.

His all round demeanour and positive approach has made him one the most respected coaches on the world stage. His attention to detail and meticulous analysis of opposition were one of the main reasons why Paris United took home the 2011 WSB Team Trophy.

WSB YEARBOOK: PARIS UNITED - 69

PARIS UNITED FRANCHISE, GROUP B

PARIS UNITED SQUAD BANTAM

LIGHT

LIGHT

MIDDLE

LIGHT HEAVY

LIGHT HEAVY

HEAVY

AIT HIYA Nourdine

AZZEDINE Rachid Mohamed

SELLAMI Mehdi

CHENNI Kamel

BOUHENIA abdelkader

SEP Hrvoje

AMANISSI Mohamed

BRAHIMI Samir

CHADI Abdelkader

HAMANI Rachid

DIABIRA Mamadou Lamine

HRGOVIC Filip

DOS SANTOS Geoffrey Mario

FATAH Lahcen

MULEMA Joseph

DION Nicolas

MARIKO Ibrahima

HMIANI Kaddour

MARJANOVIC Ljubomir

SAAD Farrhad

HAMAS Aghiles

YOKA Tony Victor James

LABIDI Riad

NEVIN John Joseph

TAVARES Michel Maurice

KHADDA Rachid

RISCAN Alexandr

PETITJEAN Franck

VANBAELINGHEM Matthieu Jordane

MAYER Georges

SCHMIDT Artur

VASTINE Adriani Roger

PAILLERET Maxime Joseph

WSB YEARBOOK: PARIS UNITED - 71

REGULAR SEASON YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: REGULAR SEASON - 73

REGULAR SEASON GROUP A WEEK

1

2

3

4

5

DATE

HOME

SCORE

AWAY

Cancelled

Bangkok

0:5

Moscow

11.11.2011

Mumbai

2:3

Milan

13.11.2011

Los Angeles

3:2

18.11.2011

Moscow

Cancelled

WEEK

DATE

HOME

SCORE

AWAY

13.01.2012

Moscow

5:0

Bangkok

13.01.2012

Milan

5:0

Mumbai

Astana

14.01.2012

Astana

4:1

Los Angeles

5:0

Mumbai

20.01.2012

Mumbai

2:3

Moscow

Astana

5:0

Bangkok

21.01.2012

Bangkok

2:3

Astana

18.11.2011

Milan

4:1

Los Angeles

22.01.2012

Los Angeles

3:2

Milan

Cancelled

Bangkok

0:5

Mumbai

03.02.2012

Mumbai

3:2

Bangkok

02.12.2011

Milan

5:0

Astana

03.02.2012

Astana

4:1

Milan

04.12.2011

Los Angeles

2:3

Moscow

03.02.2012

Moscow

5:0

Los Angeles

Cancelled

Bangkok

0:5

Milan

10.02.2012

Moscow

5:0

Astana

09.12.2011

Milan

5:0

Astana

10.02.2012

Milan

5:0

Bangkok

09.12.2011

Mumbai

3:2

Los Angeles

Cancelled

Los Angeles

0:5

Mumbai

16.12.2011

Mumbai

0:5

Astana

17.02.2012

Bangkok

3:2

Los Angeles

16.11.2011

Milan

4:1

Moscow

17.02.2012

Astana

4:1

Mumbai

18.11.2011

Los Angeles

5:0

Bangkok

17.02.2012

Moscow

3:2

Milan

6

7

8

9

10

REGULAR SEASON GROUP B WEEK

1

2

3

4

5

DATE

HOME

SCORE

AWAY

11.11.2011

Paris

3:2

Istanbul

12.11.2011

Baku

5:0

Beijing

12.11.2011

Leipzig

4:1

18.11.2011

Istanbul

Cancelled

WEEK

DATE

HOME

SCORE

AWAY

12.01.2012

Mexico City

5:0

Leipzig

13.01.2012

Istanbul

4:1

Paris

Mexico City

14.01.2012

Beijing

1:4

Baku

2:3

Baku

20.01.2012

Paris

2:3

Mexico City

Beijing

0:5

Leipzig

21.01.2012

Baku

5:0

Istanbul

19.11.2011

Mexico City

4:0

Paris

21.01.2012

Leipzig

5:0

Beijing

02.12.2011

Paris

2:3

Baku

03.02.2012

Istanbul

4:1

Leipzig

03.12.2011

Beijing

3:2

Mexico City

Cancelled

Mexico City

5:0

Beijing

03.12.2011

Leipzig

4:1

Istanbul

04.02.2012

Baku

2:3

Paris

08.12.2011

Mexico City

4:1

Istanbul

10.02.2012

Istanbul

5:0

Mexico City

10.12.2011

Baku

5:0

Leipzig

10.02.2012

Leipzig

1:4

Baku

01.02.2012

Paris

4:1

Beijing

21.02.2012

Beijing

2:3

Paris

16.12.2011

Istanbul

4:1

Beijing

17.02.2012

Paris

4:1

Leipzig

16.11.2011

Leipzig

2:3

Paris

17.02.2012

Mexico City

2:3

Baku

17.11.2011

Baku

5:0

Mexico City

22.02.2012

Beijing

4:1

Istanbul

6

7

8

9

10

WSB YEARBOOK: REGULAR SEASON - 75

REGULAR SEASON GROUP A MATCHES RANK

TEAM

BOUTS

POINTS TOTAL

WINS

LOSSES

TOTAL

WINS

LOSSES

TD

WO

1

Dynamo Moscow

25

10

8

2

50

37

13

0

0

2

Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder

24

10

7

3

50

37

13

0

0

3

Astana Arlans

22

10

7

3

50

29

21

0

0

4

Venky’s Mumbai Fighters

14

10

4

6

50

24

26

0

0

5

Los Angeles Matadors

11

10

3

7

50

17

33

0

4

6

Bangkok Elephants

4

10

1

9

50

6

44

0

3

REGULAR SEASON GROUP B MATCHES RANK

TEAM

BOUTS

POINTS TOTAL

WINS

LOSSES

TOTAL

WINS

LOSSES

TD

WO

1

Baku Fires

30

10

10

0

50

40

10

0

0

2

Mexico City Guerreros

20

10

6

4

50

31

18

1

1

3

Paris United

18

10

5

5

50

24

25

1

2

4

Leipzig Leopards

13

10

4

6

50

23

27

0

0

5

Istanbul Bosphorus

11

10

3

7

50

19

31

0

3

6

Beijing Dragons

7

10

2

8

50

12

38

0

3

WSB YEARBOOK: REGULAR SEASON - 77

QUARTER-FINALS YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: QUARTER-FINALS - 79

QUARTER-FINALS 1ST LEG Astana Arlans vs. Mexico City Guerreros (3:2) This was an exceptional encounter between two evenly matched sides. Mexican southpaw Elias Emigdio opened up proceedings for the Mexico City Guerreros in the Kazakh capital against Khabibulla Ismail-Akhunov and his shot selection and quick hands gave him the edged as he triumphed to give the visiting team the early advantage at the Daulet Sports Complex.

In the Lightweight contest, the undefeated 23-year-old local hero Merey Akshalov continued to show his supreme form and extended his winning streak with a solid performance against the fleet-footed Angel Gutierrez to peg back the visitors. After Dmytro Mytrofanov defeated Rustam Svayev, Ramzjon Ahmedov ensured the home team got back on level terms with a performance full of verve against fan’s favourite Kennedy Katende. Ruslan Myrsatayev was then awarded the Heavyweight contest by walkover as Astana Arlans took a hard-fought victory.

Venky’s Mumbai Fighters vs. Baku Fires (3:2) Coming into this match, Venky’s Mumbai Fighters were not given a chance by most pundits; however, they surprised everyone with their hunger and desire in front of their home fans. Sergii Melnyk from Ukraine restored parity for the Mumbai Fighters with an aggressive display against the 19-year-old southpaw Vatan Huseynli after Tomasz Jablonski of Poland had beaten the tall and rangy Belarusian Mikalai Vesialou.

Five-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Mary Kom was ringside to cheer on the Mumbai Fighters and also handing out the gloves was Indian boxing icon Akhil

Kumar but things were not looking too bright after Jitender Kumar was cut and had to concede defeat to Gairbek Germakhanov. Filipino sensation Charly Suarez then took to the ring in the Lightweight showdown and imposed his style on the experienced 27-year-old Semen Grivachev on his way to a quality victory as the Mumbai Fighters drew themselves back into the match.

With all to fight for, the Heavyweight contest doubled up as the decider and Tonga’s Uaine Fa made sure of victory for the Indian team after dispatching of Haji Murtuzaliyev to send Baku Fires home tasting defeat for the first time.

Paris United vs. Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder (3:2) In the much anticipated showdown between the reigning champions Paris United and the classy Italian outfit Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder, there were some riveting encounters between two of the most exciting teams in this season’s WSB competition. It was a real nail-biter right until the very end but once again home advantage made the difference in this one.

Irish record breaker John Joe Nevin dominated 21-yearold Serbian national champion Branimir Stankovic after Geoffrey Dos Santos failed to make weight for the first bout. Milan went back in front in the match with William McLaughlin defeating Cameroonian 29-yearold Joseph Mulema. Frenchman Ludovic GroguhĂŠ, who was transferred the previous summer from Paris to Milan after establishing himself as one of the stars of the WSB, struggled against his former employees and lost against Sep Hrvoje who dragged Paris level at 2-2.

Giant Filip Hrgovic then completely dominated Polish rising star Michal Olas in the Heavyweight contest to give the French outfit the overall victory.

Leipzig vs. Moscow match was cancelled (5:0 for Moscow)

WSB YEARBOOK: QUARTER-FINALS 1ST LEG - 81

QUARTER-FINALS 2ND LEG Dynamo Moscow vs. Leipzig Leopards (5:0) After Leipzig Leopards forfeited the first leg, this return fixture was a mere formality; however, Dynamo Moscow approached it in the most professional of manners and flexed their muscle to show the rest of the competition they meant business.

27-year-old Vazgen Safaryants put in a clinic in the stand-out Lightweight bout as he dominated triple Danish Champion Rashid Kassem in all five rounds before Aleksandr Ivanov continued his rich vein of form to extend his WSB unbeaten record to four wins with victory against the elusive Dutchman Stephen Danyo.

Rising Russian star Eduard Yakushev was then awarded the victory by split decision over WSB newcomer Sergey Mikhel in a tough Light Heavyweight contest.

The Heavyweight bout saw Arslanbek Makhmudov snatch a bruising win against Germany’s Eric Brechlin to send Dynamo Moscow into the next phase of the competition with a 5:0 win.

Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder vs. Paris United (5:0) The awesome Italian outfit Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder were down 2:3 on aggregate coming into their match with Paris United but were quickly handed the initiative after the Bantamweight contest was declared a walkover and the victory awarded to crowd favourite Vincenzo Picardi.

A classy Miklos Varga showed some nifty footwork to deal with the threat of the taller Frenchman Lahcen Fatah to win an absorbing Lightweight contest before Pedro Lima from Brazil beat Farrhad Saad to give the home team an unassailable lead.

28-year-old Imre Szello, an experienced campaigner, made both his reach and height count to win his Light Heavyweight battle with Frenchman Nicolas Dion before Heavyweight Ibrahima Mariko was unable to take part and Clemente Russo was awarded the win by walkover.

The Italian outfit triumphed 5:0.

Mexico City Guerreros vs. Astana Arlans (2:3) The Kazakhstan based Franchise, the Astana Arlans, travelled to the Mexican capital with high hopes after a hard fought victory 3-2 at home in the first leg of their quarter-final showdown. In the return fixture last night,

the visitors came equipped with two of their leading stars to certify their progression to the next phase of the competition, but it was by no means straight forward.

Braulio Avila Juarez distinguished himself in the opening Bantamweight contest with a domineering display against Uzbek Rafikjon Sultonov to get the Mexico City Guerreros back at 3-3 in the tie. Another Uzbek, this time fighting out of the home corner, Hurshid Tojibaev, then gave the advantage back to the Guerreros with a resounding win over Lightweight southpaw Samat Bashenov.

Kazakh superstar Kanat Slam, WSB’s very own knockout king then skilfully dispatched of Bulgaria’s Mladen Manev to get the visitors back on level terms before Abdelhafid Benchabla, 2011 WSB Light Heavyweight Individual Champion, put in the performance of his season to defeat the Guerreros’ Mexican poster-boy Francisco Javier Ortega as Astana moved into the last four.

Isa Isayev, then delighted his supporters with a crushing defeat of Mumbai’s Lightweight National Champion Diwakar Prasad before Heybulla Mursalov made it a sixth win for himself as he battered Konstantin Snigour. After this contest came the Heavyweight bout between Baku’s Ukrainian orthodox Denys Poyatsyka and Mumbai’s Paul Koon. It was a gripping contest with both boxers putting on a real show which in the end saw Poyatsyka prevail by split decision.

Bringing the evening to a close was crowd favourite and Light Heavyweight Azeri star Ramazan Magomedau, The season’s Individual Championships finalist proved once again what a tactically astute fighter he is, with a calculated performance to defeat Leanid Charnabayeu to make it a resounding 5:0 win for the Baku Fires.

Baku Fires vs. Venky’s Mumbai Fighters (5:0) Following their first defeat of the season during last weekend’s quarter-final first leg, Baku Fires were seeking not only a win but a statement of intent against the Venky’s Mumbai Fighters. And what a show of dominance it was on their home turf in the Azeri capital today.

In the Bantamweight opener, 21-year-old Russian Magomed Kurbanov got them off to a flyer with a sensational victory against Mumbai’s Ukrainian pocket dynamo Ivan Ilnytskyy. Local WSB debutant, southpaw

WSB YEARBOOK: QUARTER-FINALS 2ND LEG - 83

SEMI-FINALS

YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: SEMI-FINALS - 85

SEMI-FINALS 1ST LEG Astana Arlans vs. Dynamo Moscow (3:2) Spectacle of the highest order as Astana Arlans and Dynamo Moscow battled it out in this captivating semifinal first leg. With the Daulet Sports Complex in the heart of the Kazakh capital packed to the rafters, there was an incredible atmosphere greeting both teams.

These two Eastern rivals put on a real show with five electrifying bouts.

The intriguing Bantamweight match-up between the experienced Mirzhan Rakhimzhanov of Astana Arlans and the 21-year-old Russian orthodox rising star Vladimir Nikitin lived up to its billing. There was barely anything to choose between the two but Dynamo Moscow’s Nikitin seemed to be doing the most damage and in the end his more positive and calculating approach saw him prevail.

Kazakh heavy-hitter Merey Akshalov was now charged with dragging Astana back on level terms against one of WSB most accomplished Lightweight boxers, Belarusian southpaw Vazgen Safaryants. One of the headline fights of the evening with both boxers such quality technicians. The speed and poise of the 23-yearold Akshalov was too much as he inflicted a first career WSB defeat on Safaryants after five sensational rounds.

Prospect Miras Bairkhanov then faced Vitali Bandarenka in the Middleweight contest and shaded the final round to take the victory.

Russian orthodox fighter Danil Shved locked horns with Astana Arlans’ Ramzjon Ahmedov in the Light Heavyweight contest and it was the Uzbek who prevailed to give his team the win. Sergey Kalchugin reduced the deficit against local star Ruslan Myrsatayev as Astana took the match 3:2.

Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder vs. Baku Fires (5:0) This was a mouth-watering tie with two of the most exciting teams looking to take a major step towards progression to the WSB Team Finals in the first leg of this fixture. Both camps were in confident mood in the buildup to this huge clash at the Mediolanum Forum.

Top ranked Bantamweight Gairbek Germakhanov of Baku Fires represented one of the toughest tests of Vincenzo Picardi WSB career, but with home advantage, the experienced Picardi put in an all action display. After a hard right cut to the Azeri’s left brow and with Picardi ahead on the judges’ scorecards, the Italian orthodox fighter was awarded the win.

With Milano Thunder now with the early advantage, the fascinating Lightweight contest saw Branimir Stankovic prove his pedigree with a sumptuous display to beat 27-year-old Baku Fires Tajik Madadi Nagzibekov. In the Middleweight contest, undefeated Irishman William McLaughlin of the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder came back from a two round deficit to claim a sumptuous victory over his opponent Osman Aliyev to send Milano 3-0 up on the night.

Imre Szello used a measured approach against the young up-and-coming Baku Fires 19-year-old southpaw Vatan Huseynli to great effect as the Hungarian icon stormed to a resounding victory before 2011 WSB Heavyweight Champion Clemente Russo made his experience count against the taller Azeri southpaw Haji Murtuzaliyev to give his team a sensational overall 5:0 win.

WSB YEARBOOK: SEMI-FINALS 1ST LEG - 87

SEMI-FINALS 2ND LEG Dynamo Moscow vs. Astana Arlans (5:0) It was the fourth and final instalment in the clash of the Eastern titans saga as Moscow reserved a hot reception for Astana in a winner takes all match at the BasketHall Arena in the heart of the Russian capital. Delicately poised from the first leg, this was anyone’s match and with so much at stake, there were some nerves to settle.

Dynamo Moscow got off to a flyer as Anvar Yusunov ensured the Russian outfit drew level in the tie as the 25-year-old southpaw classily dispatched Rafikjon Sultunov to take all rounds on all judges’ scorecards.

Buoyed by the performance of his teammate, top ranked Lightweight Adlan Abdurashidov kept up the intensity levels to defeat last season’s best fighter in the division Yerzhan Mussafirov.

With Moscow now in the ascendancy and having taken the lead on aggregate, Middleweight Maxim Gazizov proved his pedigree by matching Astana’s WSB knockout king Kanat Slam throughout their bout as the Russian claimed the contest. 5:3 down on aggregate, Astana now needed to find inspiration to get back into the match with a victory needed to keep their chances of progression alive. Their weapon was 25-year-old Algerian Light Heavyweight Champion Abdelhafid Benchabla. 2012 revelation Oleksandr Gvozdyk expertly countered the threat of Benchabla to become the new hero of his team as he ensured the overall victory for Dynamo Moscow.

With the Heavyweight bout now just a formality, a deflated Chouaib Bouloudinats took to the ring for Astana looking to salvage some pride. The Algerian could just not cope with the 22-year-old Russian Vitaly Kudukhov

and after taking three counts in the first round, the fight was over within minutes as Dynamo Moscow recorded an emphatic 5:0 victory to progress to the final.

Baku Fires vs. Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder (3:2) Having recorded such a comprehensive win in the first leg, all Milano needed from their visit to the Azeri capital was to win one of their bouts against Baku Fires at the Olympic Sports Centre ‘Serdechi’ to ensure their progression to the WSB Team Final in London.

Unfortunately for the home team, rising star and AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011 silver medallist Teymur Mammadov was forced to withdraw just hours before his Light Heavyweight fight which made it impossible for Baku Fires to draw level in the tie, assuring then the overall victory for Milano.

Following this news, Baku Fires then withdrew their 26-year-old Ukrainian Heavyweight Denys Poyatsyka, who had been struggling with an injury himself. The Italian outfit then regrettably followed suit as they did not want to aggravate the hand injury that Middleweight king Sergiy Derevyanchenko had been carrying for weeks, so the night only showcased two fights.

In the Bantamweight contest, Russian Magomed Kurbanov put in a clinic as he overwhelmed Milano’s Veaceslav Gojan before exciting southpaw Isa Isayev, another product of the Azeri talent spotting program, was fast and furious as he hounded down the Argentine Juan Javier Carrasco Herrera throughout the bout to take each round on all three Judges’ scorecards. So once again Baku Fires went out at the semi-final stages.

WSB YEARBOOK: SEMI-FINALS 2ND LEG - 89

TEAM FINAL

YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: TEAM FINAL - 91

TEAM FINAL VENUE – ExCeL LONDON World Series of Boxing was pleased to announce that both the WSB Team Final and Individual Championships would be held in London, at ExCeL, the venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

WSB originally planned to hold these two events in China. However, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) decided to promote its new groundbreaking initiative, the AIBA Professional Boxing (APB) program, by showcasing its WSB competitions in the heart of the 2012 Olympic City.

“Great Britain is one of the hubs of the sport of boxing and we were delighted to see thousands of fans from all around the country coming to ExCeL to witness the best Olympic boxers competing in a pro format. It really was the pinnacle of this season”, stated Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, AIBA President and WSB Board Chairman.

ExCeL opened in 2000 as an international conference and exhibition centre, in the heart of London’s Docklands, and was then expanded in 2010. It is ideally placed to host the biggest cluster of Olympic and Paralympic events outside of the Olympic Park.

ExCeL was the largest competition venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games, hosting five different sports.

WSB YEARBOOK: VENUE - 93

TEAM FINAL MILANO CROWNED WSB TEAM CHAMPIONS The pinnacle of the World Series of Boxing season saw Dynamo Moscow and Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder battling it out in a packed ExCeL Arena in London for the Team Final. Huge crowds had gathered in anticipation for the competition’s debut on British soil as boxing fans came out in force to witness the best of Olympic fighters taking to the ring for five sensational bouts.

Bantamweights Vincenzo Picardi and Vladimir Nikitin kicked-off the action in spectacular style, with the crowd firmly behind them, the two diminutive fighters started off all guns blazing in the first round. 27-year-old Italian Picardi had the better of the opening exchanges as he connected with several classy combinations. It was more of the same in the second as the experienced Picardi pierced Nikitin’s defences with some precise hooks. The

Russian orthodox was then cut after his rival caught him with a thunderous uppercut but this seemed to spur Nikitin, who then threw some hard rights to push back his opponent as he took the third.

Nikitin continued on the offensive in the fourth round but in the fifth, this suited the Italian who was leaning back, defences tight, soaking up the pressure, waiting for the Dynamo man to open before picking his shots.

There was a chorus of ‘Vincenzo, Vincenzo’ from the vast number of Milano fans to which Picardi responded to by unleashing some powerful hooks. It was a quality fight but there had to be a winner and it was Picardi who prevailed and won by split decision to give Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder the early advantage.

Picardi later declared “It was a tough fight, Nikitin is a great boxer”, before adding “With my victories in the WSB this season I will go to the Olympic Games full of confidence”.

Adlan Abdurashidov, this season’s top ranked Lightweight then made his entrance as he faced the emerging talent from Serbia, Branimir Stankovic.

Dynamo Moscow’s Abdurashidov has such high intensity when he steps into the ring and after five wins this campaign and a place at the WSB Individual Championships confirmed, the young 22-year-old Russian was brimming with confidence here. This showed as he taunted his opponent in the early exchanges.

Although the Milano Thunder orthodox fighter might lack the experience at this level, the word from the Italian camp is that the 21-year-old Stankovic is quite a prospect and he demonstrated why he is rated so highly with an accomplished display.

Defying the odds, Stankovic fancy footwork did the damage in the first two rounds, moving with grace and throwing devastating combinations as he completely unsettled Abdurashidov. He took the third in similar style throwing some hard hooks that hit the target as the Russian struggled to contain him. The Dynamo star was running out of ideas, unable to pin the fleet-footed Stankovic down. The young Serb from Milano had by now taking the first four rounds and with the fifth just a formality, he registered an emphatic victory that saw the Italian outfit move to 2-0 up in the tie.

Abdurashidov was keen to stress post-match “With me arriving late in London, my preparations were not the best and I did not feel at 100%, but I will come back much stronger for the Individual Championships in June”.

With Dynamo Moscow now trailing, Maxim Gazizov was given the unenviable task of beating Middleweight supreme king Sergiy Derevyanchenko, who had not lost in his two seasons in the WSB. The first round was a tentative one by both orthodox fighters as they tried to get the measure of each other. As Moscow’s Gazizov tried to apply the pressure in the second, after edging the first, but he was then caught but some solid punches.

You could understand why going on the offensive was such a dangerous tactic with Derevyanchenko such an accomplished counter-puncher. Gazizov was ahead on the Judges’ scorecards after three rounds following his positive display. The Ukrainian 26-year-old, reigning WSB Individual Champion in his weight category, undefeated in eleven fights, then started to slowly pick his rival apart with some telling shots to both the head and the body. The master technician stayed composed as he dominated the latter stages to take the win, giving

WSB YEARBOOK: TEAM FINAL - 95

TEAM FINAL MILANO CROWNED WSB TEAM CHAMPIONS Milano the overall victory and ensuring his team mates would hold the Team Champions Trophy aloft at the end of the evening.

Derevyanchenko was delighted with victory, “I am very happy to achieve such a win for my team, it was tough against Gazizov but I boxed well and now we are Champions”.

The growing credentials of Oleksandr Gvozdyk of Dynamo Moscow were once again in evidence as the Ukrainian got the better of the experience Hungarian Imre Szello in the opening exchanges. Szello was in the mood for this one, safe in the knowledge that his team has the title sewn up, but in Gvozdyk he faced one of the competition’s rising stars. The Light Heavyweight Moscow star was in exhilarating form, alternating

between head and body shots as he quickly took the initiative. Szello tried to keep his opponent at bay with the jab but Gvozdyk seemed hungry to impress and record a win for his team. Vital points were scored by the 190cm tall 25-year-old as he took the win in style to reduce Dynamo Moscow’s deficit.

The Ukrainian sensation, when asked how WSB impacted on his Olympic preparations, said “Five rounds is hard but it gets you in much better shape so I will go to London with high hopes following my season in the WSB”.

After his fighting talk at the weigh-in, Dynamo Moscow’s Vitaly Kudukhov was intent on inflicting a first career defeat on reigning Heavyweight Individual Champion Clemente Russo. The Russian started off furiously, getting as close to Russo as possible, throwing all kind of punches in the direction of the Italian. It was far from easy on the eye as Kudukhov was intent on not letting the tactician find his range. The aggressiveness saw both boxers penalised in the first as Russo just could not get to grips with the 25-year-old Russian who took the first two rounds. The Milano orthodox fighter then had to dig deep and spurred on by his corner and the crowd, he started to catch his rival with several body shots as he dragged himself back into the contest. With Kudukhov tiring from his early onslaught, Russo did just enough to edge in the closing stages to win by split decision. It was sheer delight from the Italian when the announcer declared him the winner as he celebrated wildly with corner, with the title in the bag and his undefeated record intact.

Russo, the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder captain, then lifted the trophy with his team, bringing to a close a fantastic season that saw the Italian squad become WSB Team Champions for the very first time.

WSB YEARBOOK: TEAM FINAL - 97

TEAM FINAL FULL RESULTS MATCH RESULTS WED. 2 MAY 2012 ExCel London

1

4 BANTAMWEIGHT (54 KG)

-

NIKITIN Vladimir

PICARDI Vincenzo

WP

WP 2:1 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

9:10

48:47

Judge 2

9:10

10:9

10:9

9:10

9:10

47:48

Judge 3

9:10

10:9

9:10

10:9

9:10

47:48

LIGHTWEIGHT (61 KG) -

ABDURASHIDOV Adlan

STANKOVIC Branimir

WP

WP 3:0 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

46:49

Judge 2

10:9

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

47:48

Judge 3

9:10

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

46:49

MIDDLEWEIGHT (73 KG) -

GAZIZOV Maxim

DEREVYANCHENKO Sergiy

WP

WP 3:0 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

TOTAL

Judge 1

10:9

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

47:48

Judge 2

10:9

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

47:48

Judge 3

10:9

9:10

9:10

9:10

9:10

46:49

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (85 KG) WP

GVOZDYK Oleksandr

SZELLO Imre

-

WP 3:0 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

49:46

Judge 2

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

50:45

Judge 3

9:10

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

48:47

HEAVYWEIGHT (+91 KG) -

KUDUKHOV Vitaly

RUSSO Clemente

WP

WP 2:1 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

10:9

10:9

9:10

10:9

47:45

Judge 2

10:9

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

46:46

Judge 3

10:9

9:10

9:10

9:10

9:10

45:47

Warnings

1:2

1:2

WSB YEARBOOK: TEAM FINAL FULL RESULTS - 99

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 101

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BANTAMWEIGHT RANKING WINS #

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

LOSSES

TEAM Total

Home

Away

Total

Home

Away

TD

TOTAL BOUTS

PTS

!

1

GERMAKHANOV

Gairbek

5

2

3

0

0

0

0

5

731

0

2

EMIGDIO

Elias

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

4

588

0

3

ABDULHAMIDOV

Magomed

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

4

588

0

4

VOLKOV

Vitaliy

4

2

2

1

0

1

0

5

660

0

5

WARREN

Raushee

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

3

437

0

6

YUNUSOV

Anvar

3

3

0

1

1

0

0

4

584

0

7

MAI

Qingxian

3

2

1

1

1

0

0

4

551

0

8

DÜNDAR

Hüseyin

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

295

0

9

AVILA JUAREZ

Braulio

2

1

1

1

0

1

0

3

436

0

10

NIKITIN

Vladimir

2

1

1

1

0

1

0

3

431

0

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LIGHTWEIGHT RANKING WINS #

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

LOOSES

TEAM Total

Home

Away

Total

Home

Away

TD

TOTAL BOUTS

PTS

!

1

ABDURASHIDOV

Adlan

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

4

595

0

2

ROMERO

Juan

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

4

446

0

3

NAGZIBEKOV

Madadi

4

3

1

2

1

1

0

6

868

0

4

SAFARYANTS

Vazgen

3

2

1

0

0

0

0

3

442

0

5

AKSHALOV

Merey

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

3

441

0

6

GRIVACHEV

Semen

3

1

2

1

0

1

0

4

584

0

7

AYDIN

B端nyamin

3

2

1

2

1

1

0

5

716

0

8

PETITJEAN

Franck

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

299

0

9

NEVIN

John Joseph

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

297

0

10

CHADI

Abdelkader

2

0

2

1

1

0

0

3

434

0

WSB YEARBOOK: INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 103

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MIDDLEWEIGHT RANKING WINS #

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

LOOSES

TEAM Total

Home

Away

Total

Home

Away

TD

TOTAL BOUTS

PTS

!

1

DEREVYANCHENKO

Sergiy

5

2

3

0

0

0

0

5

746

0

2

MURSALOV

Heybulla

5

4

1

1

0

1

0

6

878

1

3

TAVARES

Michel

4

3

1

1

0

1

0

5

715

2

4

KHOSITASHVILI

Jaba

4

4

0

1

0

1

0

5

728

0

5

MCLAUGHLIN

William

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

3

441

0

6

IVANOV

Aleksandr

3

2

1

0

0

0

0

3

429

0

7

GAZIZOV

Maxim

3

2

1

1

0

1

0

4

575

0

8

VESIALOU

Mikalai

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

299

0

9

SNIGOUR

Konstantin

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

295

0

10

QUIGLEY

Jason

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

296

0

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT RANKING WINS #

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

LOOSES

TEAM Total

Home

Away

Total

Home

Away

TD

TOTAL BOUTS

PTS

!

1

MURTUZALIYEV

Azamat

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

4

586

0

2

MAGOMEDAU

Ramazan

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

4

586

2

3

KUNZEL

Kevin

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

4

587

0

4

KATENDE

Kennedy

4

2

2

1

0

1

0

5

731

0

5

KARNEYEU

Siarhei

3

0

3

0

0

0

0

3

442

0

6

SHVED

Danil

3

2

1

0

0

0

0

3

439

0

7

MUZAFFER

Bahram

3

2

1

1

1

0

0

4

575

0

8

BENCHABLA

Abdelhafid

3

2

1

1

0

1

0

4

549

0

9

GROGUHE

Ludovic

3

3

0

2

0

2

0

5

726

0

10

MISKOVIC

Bojan

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

299

0

WSB YEARBOOK: INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 105

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HEAVYWEIGHT RANKING WINS #

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

LOOSES

TEAM Total

Home

Away

Total

Home

Away

TD

TOTAL BOUTS

PTS

!

1

RUSSO

Clemente

5

2

3

0

0

0

0

5

737

0

2

ZUYEV

Viktar

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

4

592

0

3

HRGOVIC

Filip

4

3

1

1

0

1

0

5

730

0

4

BOULOUDINATS

Chouaib

3

1

2

0

0

0

0

3

443

0

5

MYRSATAYEV

Ruslan

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

3

437

1

6

OLAS

Michal

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

3

427

0

7

ABDULLAYEV

Abdulkadir

3

3

0

1

1

0

0

4

581

0

8

MURTUZALIYEV

Haji

3

1

2

2

0

2

0

5

698

0

9

MARIKO

Ibrahima

3

2

1

2

0

2

0

5

706

0

10

FA

Uaine

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

296

0

*Due to injuries, Clemente Russo and Viktar Zuyev did not compete; therefore, Filip Hrgovic and Ruslan Myrsatayev fighted for the World Title in the heavyweight category.

WSB YEARBOOK: INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 107

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BANTAMWEIGHT

BANTAMWEIGHT (54 KG)

165cm 27 years Orthodox Azerbaijan

Gairbek GERMAKHANOV WSB Record: 6 - 1 ( 5WP / 1TKO )

166cm 20 years Orthodox Mexico

Elias EMIGDIO

WSB Record: 8 - 1 ( 7WP / 1TKO )

In the opening Bantamweight contest, it was top ranked 27-year-old Baku Fires Gairbek Germakhanov versus the up and coming Elias Emigdio from the Mexico City Guerreros. The Azeri seemed to settle into a good early rhythm with the clever use of the jab, showing his experience to dominate the early exchanges. The 20-yearold Mexican came back strong though, with several quality punches, to edge the first round. The orthodox Emigdio then went on the offensive in the second, buoyed by his early display, only to be thwarted by the savvy Germakhanov, who was using his range to great effect. A pressure counter-puncher, the man from Baku Fires looked comfortable as he drew level on the Judges’ scorecards after the second. Throwing combinations, twos and threes, Emigdio was really positive; however, a wonderful uppercut by Germakhanov in the third put him on his way to taking the round. Cut early in the fourth, above both eyes, Emigdio showed his was made of stern stuff, trying to find the angles, in true Mexican style, but Germakhanov was playing the waiting game and unleashing at the right moments to score the vital points with some stinging shots. Emigdio was getting stuck in a brilliant fourth round but once again the Azeri was coping well, moving effortlessly around the ring and clearly in the ascendancy was using his know-how to dominate. Clearly ahead on points, Germakhanov stuck to his winning tactics to close out the latter stages as he went on to win a quality contest.

After collecting his belt, Germakhanov thanked his team, declaring “It is of the Baku Fires that I am number one, the training, the coaches, the staff, my teammates, this victory is for them and Azerbaijan”.

WSB YEARBOOK: BANTAMWEIGHT - 109

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LIGHTWEIGHT

LIGHTWEIGHT (61 KG)

174cm 21 years Orthodox Russia

Adlan ABDURASHIDOV WSB Record: 8 - 2 ( 6WP / 2TKO )

179cm 22 years Orthodox Mexico

Juan ROMERO

WSB Record: 5 - 3 ( 4WP / 1TKO )

In the Lightweight match-up, Mexico City Guerreros’ Juan Romero looked at ease in the ring, calm and composed, throwing a variation of punches, confusing the Russian Adlan Abdurasidov in the early exchanges as he put the vital points on the board. The work rate of the Mexican was definitely getting the approval of the Judges as he took the second and third rounds after some clever tactics against the Dynamo Moscow orthodox 21-year-old. The frustrated Abdurashidov, who ended the season as the top ranked boxer in the division, had to readjust his game plan to get back into the fight with the 22-year-old Romero continuing to use his speed and reach to great effect. The young Russian changed his approach and showed great resilience to claw his way back into the fight with some classy counter punching as he took the fourth. Keeping the flow and the movement, Abdurashidov was now in the ascendancy, landing some solid combinations in the fifth and sixth as Romero got frustrated and unable to cope with the endeavour of his rival, the Mexican was now being worn down. It was now all to fight for as both boxers were almost equal on points after six rounds. A beautiful right hand counter punch by Abdurashidov was soon followed by a stinging left hook from Romero in an electric final round but it was the speed of the Mexican that saw him take the overall victory by split decision.

A jubilant Juan Romero expressed his joy by saying “I am very happy. I owe this to my family, all the people who have accompanied me and my fans. Viva Mexico”.

WSB YEARBOOK: LIGHTWEIGHT - 111

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MIDDLEWEIGHT

MIDDLEWEIGHT (73 KG)

174cm 26 years Orthodox Ukraine

Sergiy DEREVYANCHENKO WSB Record: 12 - 0 ( 8WP / 4TKO )

168cm 21 years Orthodox Azerbaijan

Heybulla MURSALOV

WSB Record: 6 - 1 ( 4WP / 2TKO )

The Middleweight contest was the much anticipated showdown between the Middleweight Ukrainian winning machine Sergiy Derevyanchenko and the rising star Heybulla Mursalov from Baku Fires. The experienced 26-year-old Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder orthodox fighter, the reigning WSB World Champion from 2011, cleverly used his jab to keep his opponent from Azerbaijan at bay in the early stages, but the unfazed Mursalov threw some stiff jabs of his own. Switching stances, Derevyanchenko was moving inwards and throwing some hard uppercuts, but 21-year-old Mursalov seemed content to soak up the pressure from the Ukrainian and getting a feel for his opponent. Derevyanchenko just edged the first, having landed the most punches. Midway through the second round, Mursalov stepped up a gear, worked the body of his rival with some furious hooks to the body before an overhead left sent Derevyanchenko to the canvas, taking the second round in spectacular fashion.

The youngster was now brimming with confidence and was showboating a little, trying to unnerve the Ukrainian, but the Milano Thunder man went back to using the jab to take the third. Quality footwork, perfect defences, and a great mix of shot selection had Derevyanchenko back on top in the exchanges as he took the fourth.

Mursalov needed to apply the pressure after being too sporadic up until the fifth, but it was the Ukrainian who continued to dominate with some well placed shots to take another round on the Judges’ scorecards. Whatever Derevyanchenko had thrown at him, he responded in style with some swift measured combinations, it was textbook boxing from the defending champion. The jab continued to be his calling card and the classy Derevyanchenko went on to take the bout with a resounding win to maintain his unbeaten record in the competition. Mursalov will have been proud of his performance and played his part in a sensational fight.

A bruised but happy Derevyanchenko declared “It is a great feeling to win this title again, this year the competition was so much stronger so I am delighted with this achievement�.

WSB YEARBOOK: MIDDLEWEIGHT - 113

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (85 KG)

180cm 22 years Southpaw Azerbaijan

Azamat MURTUZALIYEV WSB Record: 4 - 0 ( 3WP / 1TKO )

182cm 26 years Orthodox Azerbaijan

Ramazan MAGOMEDAU WSB Record: 9 - 0 ( 9WP )

The penultimate contest of the night at the ExCeL London saw two unbeaten boxers from the same team, Baku Fires, battling it out for the Light Heavyweight title.

It was the top ranked 22-year-old orthodox Azamat Murtuzaliyev against the tactically astute Ramazan Magomedau, both from Azerbaijan. Tentative early on, it was the more aggressive Magomedau who scored the vital points to take the first round. Piling on the pressure by being the aggressor, the 26-year-old Magomedau looked comfortable as he dictated proceedings from the centre of the canvas, finding his range with some solid combinations. With two WSB campaigns under his belt, the confident Magomedau was switching stances, confusing Murtuzaliyev, before unleashing powerful shots. At the end of the third, the younger of the two Azeri fighters pulled a muscle in his back and was unable to continue, Magomedau winning by TKO to become the WSB World Champion 2012.

Magomedau beamed “One of the hardest fights that I have been in, it is unlucky for Azamat to get injured. I am a World Champion. Baku Fires are number one!�.

WSB YEARBOOK: LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT - 115

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HEAVYWEIGHT

HEAVYWEIGHT (91+ KG)

198cm 19 years Orthodox Croatia

Filip HRGOVIC

WSB Record: 10 - 2 ( 7WP / 3TKO )

186cm 27 years Orthodox Kazakhstan

Ruslan MYRSATAYEV

WSB Record: 7 - 3 ( 3WP / 3TKO / 1KO )

Heavyweights Filip Hrgovic from Paris United and Ruslan Myrsatayev from Astana Arlans brought the roof down at the ExCeL London. AIBA Youth World Champion Filip Hrgovic from Croatia looked in top shape coming into the bout, using his range and height advantage to great effect by throwing hard one-twos towards his opponent and taking the points in the first three minutes. Although the 27-year-old Myrsatayev was more positive in the second, looking to land with some hard overheads, the young Hrgovic’s tactics were working a treat as he kept the Kazakh at arm’s length by throwing straight combinations down the middle to edge it in the second. The 20-year-old Hrgovic’s game plan continued to work as he came out on top in a gruelling third round that saw both boxers throwing several bruising punches. The fourth saw a more offensive Myrsatayev looking to land some heavy blows, but he found himself once again countered by quality defences from the tall Croatian, who thereafter repeatedly found the target with some precise one-two combinations. In the fifth, the burly Kazakh seemed to finally find the breakthrough as he landed a stiff hook but Hrgovic replied with some vicious shots that rocked Myrsatayev, who had to take a standing eight count. Having shown great heart against the much taller Hrgovic, the tiring Kazakh was running out of steam and idteas and the Croatian continued to dominate, the tactical one-two combinations ensuring he took the remaining rounds to take the World Title.

Hrgovic was delighted with his performance and upon receiving the World Champion’s belt declared “It was tough but I boxed extremely well, this is a victory dedicated to my coach and my team, Paris United”.

WSB YEARBOOK: HEAVYWEIGHT - 117

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FULL RESULTS BANTAMWEIGHT (50-54 KG) GERMAKHANOVGairbek

WP

EMIGDIO Elias

-

WP 3:0 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

69:64

Judge 2

10:9

9:10

10:9

10:9

9:10

10:9

10:9

68:65

Judge 3

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

69:64

LIGHTWEIGHT (57-61 kg) ABDURASHIDOV Adlan

-

ROMERO Juan

WP

WP 2:1 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

9:10

66:67

Judge 2

9:10

10:9

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

68:65

Judge 3

9:10

9:10

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

9:10

66:67

MIDDLEWEIGHT (68-73 kg) DEREVYANCHENKO Sergiy

WP

MURSALOV Heybulla

-

WP 3:0 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

TOTAL

Judge 1

10:9

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

69:64

Judge 2

10:9

9:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

69:64

Judge 3

10:9

8:10

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

68:64

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT(80-85 kg) MURTUZALIYEV Azamat

-

MAGOMEDAU Ramazan

TKO

TKO R4 03:00 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

TOTAL

Judge 1

9:10

9:10

10:9

28:29

Judge 2

9:10

9:10

9:10

27:30

Judge 3

9:10

9:10

10:9

28:29

HEAVYWEIGHT (+91 kg) HRGOVIC Filip

WP

MYRSATAYEV Ruslan

-

WP 3:0 R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

TOTAL

Judge 1

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:8

10:9

10:9

70:62

Judge 2

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:8

10:9

10:9

70:62

Judge 3

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:9

10:8

10:9

10:9

70:62

WSB YEARBOOK: TEAM FINAL FULL RESULTS - 119

WSB BOXERS AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: WSB BOXERS AT OLYMPIC GAMES - 121

WSB BOXERS AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 50 Boxers who participated in the World Series of Boxing season 1 and/or 2 had qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games. A total of seven medals were won by these boxers.

Flyweight (52kg) Samir BRAHIMI from Algeria Selguk EKER from Turkey Tugstsogt NYAMBAYAR from Mongolia - Silver medal Nordine OUBAALI from France Vincenzo PICARDI from Italy Raushee WARREN from USA Bantamweight (56kg) Magomed ABDULHAMIDOV from Azerbaijan Kanat ABUTALIPOV from Kazakhstan Denis CEYLAN from Denmark

Detelin DALAKLIEV from Bulgaria Joseph DIAZ from USA John Joe NEVIN from Ireland - Silver medal Jahyn PARRINELLO from Italy Anvar YUSUNOV from Tajikistan Lightweight (60kg) Rachid AZZEDINE from France Abdelkader CHADI from Algeria Shafiq CHITOU from Benin Vazgen SAFARYANTS from Belarus Domenico VALENTINO from Italy Miklos VARGA from Hungary Light Welterweight (64kg) Everton dos SANTOS from Brazil Gaybatulla GADZHIALIEYEV from Azerbaijan Welterweight (69kg) Alexis VASTINE from France Patrick WOJCICKI from Germany Middleweight (75kg) Esquiva FALCAO FLORENTINO from Brazil - Silver medal Terrell GAUSHA from USA Andranik HAKOBYAN from Armenia Stefan HARTEL from Germany Adem KILICCI from Turkey Soltan MIGITINOV from Azerbaijan Abdelmalek RAHOU from Algeria Light Heavyweight (81kg) Abdelhafid BENCHABLA from Algeria Yamaguchi FALCAO FLORENTINO from Brazil - Bronze medal Carlos GONGORA from Ecuador

Oleksandr GVOZDYK from Ukraine Vatan HUSEYNLI from Azerbaijan Enrico KOELLING from Germany Jeysson MONROY from Colombia Bahram MUZAFFER from Turkey Heavyweight (91kg) Maxwell AMPONSAH from Ghana Chouaib BOULOUDINATS from Algeria Julio Cesar CASTILLO TORRES from Ecuador Siarhei KARNEYEU from Belarus Teymur MAMMADOV from Azerbaijan - Bronze medal Clemente RUSSO from Italy - Silver medal Super Heavyweight (+91kg) Mohammed ARJAOUI from Morocco Magomedrasul MEDZHIDOV from Azerbaijan - Bronze medal Erik PFEIFER from Germany Blaise YEPMOU MENDOUO from Cameroon Tony YOKA from France 4 Silver medals Esquiva FALCAO FLORENTINO (Mexico City Guerreros) John Joe NEVIN (Paris United) Tugstsogt NYAMBAYAR (Baku Fires) Clemente RUSSO (Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder) 3 Bronze medals Yamaguchi FALCAO FLORENTINO (Mexico City Guerreros) Teymur MAMMADOV (Baku Fires) Magomedrasul MEDZHIDOV (Baku Fires)

WSB YEARBOOK: WSB BOXERS AT OLYMPIC GAMES - 123

WSB OFFICIALS YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: WSB OFFICIALS - 125

SUPERVISORS WSB OFFICIALS

BESSALEM Abdellah (ALG)

FALCINELLI Franco (ITA)

KUSIOR Adam (POL)

BISBAL Osvaldo (ARG)

FIACCO Pat (CAN)

NARSI Kishen (IND)

BOSELLI Luiz (BRA)

FRANCIS David (GBR)

RANZE Helmut (GER)

VIRGETS Tom (USA)

One Supervisor is assigned to each match of the season and is responsible for the technical governance and compliance from the Weigh-In to the end of the match.

ERKUYUMCU Garip (TUR)

JUNG Jae Kyu (KOR)

SILVAS Ray (USA)

02/03/1939 - 26/07/2012 Mr Garip Ercuyumcu was loved and respected by everyone who knew him and he will be missed by all of us at AIBA and WSB.

WSB YEARBOOK: SUPERVISORS - 127

RINGSIDE DOCTORS & MEDICAL STATISTICS WSB OFFICIALS

EHNERT Michael (GER)

LOOSEMORE Mike (GBR)

SINGH Nirmolak (IND)

BIANCO Massimiliano (ITA)

EKMAN Gunnar (SWE)

MAZAUD Alain (FRA)

WALLACE Paul (USA)

DINCER Mehmet Derya (TUR)

FISCHER Angelika (GER)

MOUSTAHSANE Mohamed (MAR)

AHUJA Ashok (IND)

Every single WSB bout is under the supervision of a certified neutral Ringside Doctor. Since this 2011/2012 season, he is now assisted by one local Ringside Doctor.

DOLLA Thorsten (GER)

KHADRI Abdelhamid (MAR)

NEVERKOVICH Alexander (RUS)

Boxing is one of the safest Olympic sports and as an initiative of AIBA, WSB has done everything to match the highest standard: more padding in the gloves, same bandages, standing 8 counts, extensive medical check, minimum of 12 rest days between two fights... Above all, WSB boxers are only AIBA Elite boxers ensuring no level discrepancies.

• 81% of all contested bouts did go the full distance • Only 1% of all contested fights were stopped because of cuts • 16% of all fights ended by KO/TKO/TKO-I which are similar numbers than AIBA competitions

WSB AND AIBA COMPARISON TKO (AB+RSC+RSCH)

TKO-I

WSB

14.81%

1.32%

AIBA

10.40%

1.30%

* Comparison between WSB 2nd Season and the AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011.

WSB YEARBOOK: RINGSIDE DOCTORS & MEDICAL STATISTICS - 129

REFEREES & JUDGES WSB OFFICIALS The WSB pool of Referees & Judges is the cream of the crop of AIBA R&Js. Out of this season’s 35 WSB R&Js, 22 participated in the London 2012 Olympic Games: Siarhei Asanau (Belarus), Mik Basi (Great Britain), Lars Brovil (Denmark), Armando Carbonell (Colombia), Andrew Caulfield (Great Britain), Yasar Cinar (Turkey), Albino Foti (Italy), Michael Gallagher (Ireland), Mariusz Gorny (Poland), Bahodir Jumaniyazov (Uzbekistan), Rene Just (Slovakia), Jones Kennedy Silva do Rosario (Brazil), Roland Labbe (Canada), David Llaurado (USA), Vladislav Malyshev (Russia), Ishanguly Meretnyyazov (Turkmenistan), Gerardo Poggi (Argentina), Rakhymzhan Rysbayev (Kazakhstan), Frank Scharmach (Germany), Kheira Sidi Yakoub (Algeria), Martin Tadic (Croatia), Hassan Zoubid (Morocco).

WSB YEARBOOK: REFEREES & JUDGES - 131

REFEREES & JUDGES WSB OFFICIALS

ASANAU Siarhei (BLR)

BOUGIOUKAS E. (GRE)

CAULFIELD Andrew (GBR)

GERMAIN Tony (CAN)

KAIGORODOV A. (MDA)

BASI Mik (GBR)

BRAHAM Mohamed (TUN)

CINAR Yasar (TUR)

GORNY Mariusz (POL)

KARAKULOV M. (UKR)

BEDEMANN Claus (DEN)

BROVIL Lars (DEN)

FOTI Albino (ITA)

JUMANIYAZOV B. (UZB)

KELLY Seamus (IRL)

BONET ORTIZ Jose (PUR)

CARBONELL Armando (COL)

GALLAGHER Michael (IRL)

JUST Rene (SVK)

SILVA DO ROSARIO J.K. (BRA)

LABBE Roland (CAN)

MADFOUA Fathi (FRA)

POGGI Gerardo (ARG)

SIDI YAKOUB Kheira (ALG)

LAINE J.-Robert (FRA)

MALYSHEV Vladislav (RUS)

RYSBAYEV R. (KAZ)

TADIC Martin (CRO)

LICINI Enrico (ITA)

MERETNYYAZOV Ishanguly (TKM)

SCHARMACH F. (GER)

ZOUBID Hassan (MAR)

LLAURADO D. (USA)

MORLEY R. (ENG)

SERVIDE Roberto (ARG)

WSB YEARBOOK: REFEREES & JUDGES - 133

OFFICIAL GLOVE SUPPLIER YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: OFFICIAL GLOVE SUPPLIER - 135

OFFICIAL GLOVE SUPPLIER SPONSOR

Following the great success of the World Series of Boxing first season, the German manufacturer Budoland Sportartikel Vertriebs GmbH renewed its contract with WSB SA for season two.

Therefore its TOP TEN brand, one of the AIBA Licensees, remained as the official WSB glove supplier.

“We are very proud to be part of the AIBA Licensees and to support all its projects. After a successful first season, it has been a pleasure to continue working in such an exciting competition as the World Series of Boxing”, stated Peter Kruckenhauser, CEO of Budoland Sportartikel Vertriebs GmbH.

LEIPZIG LEOPARDS

WSB YEARBOOK: OFFICIAL GLOVE SUPPLIER - 137

WSB IN THE MEDIA YEARBOOK - SEASON 2011-2012

WSB YEARBOOK: WSB IN THE MEDIA - 139

TV COVERAGE WSB IN THE MEDIA During its second season, WSB had a total of 28 broadcasters which televised the competition in more than 42 countries worldwide.

There were 15 broadcasters from the Franchise markets, covering 12 Franchise home matches with most broadcasting the WSB Finals.

There were a further 13 broadcasters from non-Franchise markets, covering more than 30 countries around with several also broadcasting the WSB Finals.

FRANCHISE MARKETS AMERICAS

EUROPE

ASIA & AUSTRALIA

NON-FRANCHISE MARKETS AMERICAS

EUROPE

ASIA & AUSTRALIA

WSB YEARBOOK: TV COVERAGE - 141

TV COVERAGE WSB IN THE MEDIA SUMMARY OF REGIONAL COVERAGE REGION

PROGRAMS

COVERAGE (hh:mm)

CUMULATIVE AUDIENCE (hh:mm)

COVERAGE (%)

AUDIENCE (%)

ASIA PACIFIC

54

117:39

2,713

16

30

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

21

41:45

167

6

2

EUROPE

200

356:26

5,789

47

64

NORTH AMERICA

118

231:30

383

31

4

WORLD GRAND TOTAL

393

747:21

9,053

100

100

ANALYSIS BY BROADCASTER REGION

ASIA PACIFIC

MARKET

TV CHANNEL

PROGRAMS

COVERAGE (%)

CUMULATIVE AUDIENCE (%)

AZERBAIJAN

AZTV

11

20:00

177.6

CHINA

SHANGHAI TV

1

03:00

6.1

INDIA

ESPN STAR

10

22:26

870

KAZAKHSTAN

EL ARNA

11

26:08

1,474.6

MYANMAR

SKYNET

6

13:00

39

THAILAND

SIAM SPORT

1

02:00

17.6

TRUEVISIONS

8

16:00

92.9

MALAYSIA

ASTRO SUPERSPORT 3

2

04:04

0

PHILIPPINES

CPI

1

02:00

6.2

SINGAPORE

STARHUB

1

02:00

4.7

KOREA

KNBC

1

02:00

15.1

SRI LANKA

CSN

1

02:00

9.2

54

117:39

2,713

TOTAL

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA TOTAL

MEXICO

SKY MEXICO

19

38:30

135.8

PAN C&S AMERICA (LATIN AMERICA)

DIRECT TV

1

02:00

26.9

BRAZIL

SPORTV 2

1

01:15

4.6

21

41:45

167.3

ANALYSIS BY BROADCASTER REGION

MARKET

TV CHANNEL

PROGRAMS

COVERAGE (%)

CUMULATIVE AUDIENCE (%)

GERMANY

SPORT 1+

8

16:40

298

ITALY

SPORT ITALIA

107

192:39

1,222.7

RUSSIA

RUSSIA 2

11

25:32

2,625.8

TURKEY

SPORTS TV

27

31:35

1,318

UNITED KINGDOM

EUROSPORT

4

04:00

23

POLAND

nTV

3

06:00

30.7

SPORT-1

28

55:44

194.2

SPORT-2

12

24:16

77

200

356:26

5,789.4

FOX SPORTS WEST

58

113:45

132

FOX SPORTS WEST

58

113:45

251

SANDY FRANK

2

04:00

0.1

TOTAL

118

231:30

383.1

GRAND TOTAL

393

747:21

9,052.8

EUROPE

UKRAINE TOTAL CANADA NORTH AMERICA

UNITED STATES

TOTAL HOURS OF COVERAGE PROJECTED FOR SEASON 2 REGION

COVERAGE (hh:mm)

VIEWERS

ASIA PACIFIC

231:30

383,000

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

356:26

5.8 MILLION

EUROPE

117:39

2.7MILLION

NORTH AMERICA

41:45

167,000

TOTAL

747:21

9.1 MILLION

WSB YEARBOOK: TV COVERAGE - 143

INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA WSB IN THE MEDIA The World Series of Boxing website brought WSB fans in-depth coverage and analysis on every talking point of this enthralling competition. With detailed previews and reviews of every match along with profiles of the stars of this groundbreaking new project, there was only one place to follow all the action. Backed up by a comprehensive database, all statistics and athlete bios were made available at just the click of a button. There was live coverage of results on the website as well as broadcast quality live feeds on WSB’s very own YouTube channel, which continues to grow in popularity as the world turns to new media for entertainment.

Active on all social media platforms, WSB has a huge presence on Facebook and Twitter whilst is keen to share the best of its competition’s images on Flickr. Reaching out to its fans in every way has been one of the major focuses of WSB and the appetite for information from its followers continues to grow.

WSB YEARBOOK: INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA - 145

WSB PR IN NUMBERS PRESS CLIPPINGS WSB IN THE MEDIA • 160 press releases • 180 website articles • 245,033 website visits • 1,074,895 page views • 86,035 unique visitors • 3,400 photos on Flickr • 401,205 photos views on Flickr • 11,800 Facebook fans

sport 22

RIPPLES

INDIA PLAYS IT DIFFERENT We tap the year’s pulse to highlight trends that’ll influence sports beyond 2011

punch tantra

IT IS RINGING MONEY To illustrate the money in Indian boxing, here’s the case study of the Mumbai Fighters

R25 cr

the amount of money TransStadia will pay AIBA for the 10-year rights to the Indian franchise, Mumbai Fighters. Additionally, for the first year, TransStadia has paid a premium of US$3,00,000.

From the fringes of Indian Olympic sport, boxing is set to become its fairytale, says Saurabh Duggal

F

or at least some time during and after the 2004 Olympic Games, he was the face of Indian boxing. But after becoming the country’s only pugilist to make it to the second round at Athens, Diwakar Prasad faded into the shadows and out of public imagination.

But that’s history now. The man they now call DK-47 is again the target of autograph hunters; kids want to shake his hand and adults want to pose with him. And it’s all thanks to the World Series of Boxing (WSB).

“The world had forgotten me, but because of WSB, I am back in the limelight,” says Diwakar, who is part of the Indian franchise, Mumbai Fighters. “Not only has the league given us the platform to showcase our talent, it will also help in the promotion of the sport in the country.”

Diwakar is not the only one to benefit from the league. Take Krishan Kumar, for example. The newest star boxer from Haryana has been dubbed the ‘Smiling Assassin’ by his franchise, and is a hit with the spectators because of his boxing style.

“Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that, one day, people would ask for my autograph. Even when I was in the national camp, no one outside knew me. But, now, I am recognised even by strangers in Mumbai,” says Krishan. “Name and fame aside, the WSB is also helping me earn decent money. And it’s not just the contract fee and our wins, we get paid even in defeat.”

The WSB, started last year by the sport's international federation, AIBA, has enhanced the entertainment value of the sport. But it was only this year, when TransStadia launched the Mumbai Fighters, that India’s presence was felt on the world map. Even though the league is yet to gain popularity in the country, it has given birth to a galaxy of stars.

The administrators are now hoping that the WSB will do to boxing what the IPL did to cricket. “The concept of a boxing league is new to the country. But, gradually, you will see it gain momentum,” says Bhupinder Singh, vice-president of the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF).

“In the first bout in Mumbai on December 9, half the stands were empty. But a week later, during the second bout, the stands were full.”

All about WSB

The WSB is a franchise-based league in which the boxers have a go at each other without the protection of headguards or vests. The bouts feature professional-style scoring. A WSB match consists of five bouts (one each in the five weight categories — 54kg, 61kg, 73kg, 85kg and +91kg), with each bout consisting of five

R8 cr

the annual budget of the Mumbai Fighters (including formation of the team, hosting of matches, logistics and other expenses).

rounds of three minutes each. The team with the most wins from the five bouts wins the match.

The 12 teams have been divided into two pools, giving each franchise a minimum of 10 matches, including five home matches, in a season.

The first year of the league did not see any representation from India. Initially, Videocon got the Indian franchise, but dispute over getting the boxers into its fold led the company to pull out. This year, TransStadia got the Indian franchise and named it the Mumbai Fighters. The team is based in Pune and has recruited 17 boxers so far, including four foreigners. The Fighters have won only one of the four matches they have played so far.

WHAT BOXERS ARE GETTING R25,000-1 lakh a month the amount most Indian boxers are getting.

R2-3 lakh the amount most foreign boxers are getting.

R15-20 lakh is what Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar are earning through their contracts.

R1 lakh for each win.

R25,000 for each defeat.

TICKET TO LONDON With the Vijenders and Akhils not making a mark, fringe players have caught the eye.

Four of them booked berths for the Olympics through World C’ships. Know them:

5-round battle

As a WSB bout consists of five rounds compared to three in amateur boxing, the longer version has become a big challenge for the Indians. Despite leading initially, the Indian boxers, more often than not, have run out of steam after three rounds and eventually given up.

The primary task, then, is to ensure that the Indians remain in the ring for the entire duration. “The concept of professional boxing is new to the Indians. Their bodies are used to three rounds (nine minutes of action), after which they get exhausted. That’s why they are facing problems in the five-round encounters.

Hopefully, this problem will be sorted,” says chief coach Shiv Kumar Pal. “The franchise came in late, so our first target was to put together a team. Now that a team is in place, our focus will be on training them in accordance with the requirements of professional boxing,” the coach adds.

L DEVENDRO SINGH (49kg)

Illustration: JAYANTO

Victory a must The Indian franchise’s lack of wins is another reason why the WSB has been slow in gaining momentum in the country. “Boxing has existed in the country for decades, but it came into limelight once Indian boxers started winning medals. The scenario changed after Vijender's bronze in the Olympics. So, what matters most is victory. Once our team starts winning, people will get interested,” says Akhil Kumar.

“Give us time. Ours is a new team, and the concept too is new. You will

see a marked change in the performance after a few more bouts,” he adds.

“You can’t expect people to follow you if you are not winning. We have to show our potential in order to win them over,” says Udit Sheth, owner of the franchise.

Absence of national squad boxers

Except for World Cup bronze-medallist, Akhil, no other boxer from India’s 10-member squad that competed in this year’s World Championship is

theplusses The World Series of Boxing is the next big thing in Indian sport. Here is what it’ll do to the game in India.

FITTER AND STRONGER

IN THE LIMELIGHT AND TV GLARE

MONEY, MONEY AND MORE MONEY

SUSTAINED EXPOSURE

YARDSTICK FOR SELECTION

The boxers have to adjust to five gruelling rounds, that too without headgear and vests. They need more stamina than in amateur boxing and have to pace their fight accordingly.

Akin to professional fights — the ones we see in Caesar’s Palace — they box in the open.

The TV coverage, with all angles covered, has been exceptional. Each point can be followed with ease.

More money means more career options for the boxers. If earlier they had to contend with jobs paying meagre salaries, they are now in a better position as more avenues have opened up.

Since they fight top boxers from all over the world, there’s the added advantage of sustained exposure to quality athletes. This has helped them assess their strengths and weaknesses.

Like IPL, the WSB will be a platform for young pugilists to showcase their talent under public glare. In the years to come, this might become the stage from where national selectors pick the team.

theysay

• 804,000 YouTube views

Udit Sheth

Akhil Kumar

World Cup bronze-medallist and Arjuna awardee

I always dreamt that, one day, the stature of boxing would grow so much that posters of boxers would be displayed in shopping malls, and people would recognise us even when we were not in our boxing attire. People would watch bouts by purchasing tickets and, like cricket, boxing too would have its fan base. With the emergence of WSB, all this is fast becoming a reality. The professional league will ensure name, fame and money, not only for a select few but for the boxing community.

H I N D U STA N T I M E S , N E W D E L H I F R I DAY, D EC E M B E R 2 3 , 2 0 1 1

Brigadier PKM Raja

part of the WSB. In India, the popularity of boxing has less to do with the sport and more with the larger-thanlife persona of its brightest stars. So, the absence of big names like Olympic medallist Vijender, Suranjoy Singh and Vikas Krishan has also affected the popularity of the Fighters. “The WSB is restricted to only five weight categories, so some of the country’s top names have had to give it a miss. Another reason is next year’s Olympic qualifiers. Those who are yet to qualify for London haven’t joined the league,” says PK Muralidharan Raja, secy-general, IBF.

Selection of venues

The selection of venues will be crucial for the league’s popularity. The Fighters started their home campaign from Pune, but the first match, hosted in the city, did not exactly set the stage on fire. There were few takers for tickets (R250). Later on, the next two home matches were staged at a shopping mall in Mumbai.

Because of its location, tickets sold like hot cakes, and the second of those matches saw a full house. With the sport more popular in the north, especially Delhi and Haryana, staging matches there will provide impetus. “The TV ratings for the Dec 9 bout are out. After we receive the ratings for the Dec 16 bout, we will analyse them and chalk out a venueselection plan,” says Udit.

Abhay Chautala

Nursed in the same cradle as Dingko and Suranjoy, this young and fiery boxer from Manipur has a heart of steel.

He first outpunched boxers like Nanao and Amandeep for a place in the India team and then stunned the world with a quarterfinal berth in the Worlds.

JAI BHAGWAN (60kg) For a couple of years, he lived in the shadow of Akhil and Vijender. The talent was there, but getting a break was what he was striving for. And when he got it, he grabbed it with both hands. Gold in Commonwealth Championships, bronze in CWG and a quarters berth at the Worlds.

MANOJ KUMAR (64kg) Before the World Championships, he was not even sure of a berth in the team.

But once inside the ring, he showed why the selectors reposed faith in him. He not only reached the quarters, but also managed to beat higher ranked players in his quest for glory.

VIKAS KRISHAN (69kg) With swift foot movement and a lethal right, he has the combination to unsettle the best. He has shown the spunk at the highest stage when he clinched bronze at the World Championships.

Joe Clough

Owner of Mumbai Fighters

Secretary-general, IBF

President, IBF

Technical director, Mumbai Fighters

We want to change the concept of corporate involvement in Olympic disciplines in India. Here, big houses make limited contribution to sport and that too under the banner of corporate social responsibility, as they feel investment in sport is not profitable. But we want to show that a big market exists for Olympic sports. It’s just how you present them.

We’ve just started, but in four years, we’ll break even.

With the emergence of the Mumbai Fighters, the standard of Indian boxing will improve. The boxers are not only going to benefit financially, but competing in the league over 5 rounds will enhance their strength and endurance levels. So, when they return to the amateur circuit, their performance will get better. Participating in the league will give our boxers the opportunity to pit their skills against the best.

When the IPL started, we thought of having our own league. Somehow, it didn’t materialise then. Now that the WSB has started and we too have a team in it, our dream has come true. I am sure that with the professional league in place, the sport will reach another level, and will also enhance the country’s reputation. The day is not far when boxers will also acquire celebrity status in the country.

I think the WSB is a great concept. All that is needed now is continuity and, in the seasons to come, the number of franchises will increase. It makes life better for the boxers as it gives them security and, of course, more intensive and better training. There is a challenge here for Indian boxers, as they haven’t fought fiveround bouts and that too without headgear. But they are up for it.

Five boxers crowned WSB World Champions at ExCeL London

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=32366&more=1

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                               

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   

Medzhidov to lead Azerbaijan's seven strong boxers London 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012



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

               http://boxscorenews.com/medzhidov-to-lead-azerbaijans-seven-strong-...       

 

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     

   

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 

Southern Utah Adds Guard Ashleigh Munns of England

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Duquesne Men's Basketball Releases 2012-13 Non-Conference Schedule

PBA Bowling

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Mike Hesson appointed Head Coach of New Zealand Cricket

Pakistan Cricket

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"The Captain and Coach Wanted Mohammad Sami over Junaid Khan," Iqbal Qasim

Canadian Football

· Magomedrasul Medzhidov fighting in 2011 World Championships in Baku (photos courtesy Insidethegames.biz).

by Tom Degun Inside The Games July 1, 2012

 

Yale Football on YES This Fall

CIS Hockey

Reigning amateur super heavyweight champion Magomedrasul Medzhidov (pictured above), one of the biggest stars in amateur boxing, will lead a sevenstrong Azerbaijan boxing team at London 2012 in a sport that represents the nation's biggest chance of an Olympics medal.

The 25-year-old, who is the reigning International Boxing Association (AIBA) Elite Boxer of the Year and the world number one ranked amateur super heavyweight, proved his class in the gold medal match of the 2011 World Championships in Baku where he defeated Britain's highly-rated Anthony Joshua (pictured below, left) 22-21 in a thrilling contest.

Earlier this month, Medzhidov became one of the first boxers to sign up to new AIBA Professional Boxing (APB) programme, which will launch next year and looks to roll back decades of tradition by offering contracts that allow fighters to box professionally in the APB while retaining their Olympic eligibility.

Another major Olympic medal hope for Azerbaijan at London 2012 is the accomplished 19-year-old heavyweight Teymur Mammadov, who is ranked top in the division, winning silver at the 2011 World Championships.

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Former Acadia hockey player joins Oshawa coaching staff

MG supplies fleet of cars to the Jamaican and USA Track & Field Training Camps

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Fagbenle and GB Basketball Wrap Up Exhibition Play Before 2012 London Olympics

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International Rugby

 

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Rugby W orld Cup Sevens qualifiers begin in Europe

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Total Rugby Podcast: This week in the W orld of Rugby, July 19, 2012

Sailing

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 

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Manchester City's Guidetti: "Galatasaray are in the Champions League, my doors are open"

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Amigo Orhan: The birth of organised supporter culture in Turkey

  

Red-hot Sugimoto steers Japan to 1-0 win over Belarus in pre-Olympic warm-up

 

Perez arrives at Chivas to boost leadership

Oceania Football Confederation

Vatan Huseynli, the 20-year-old light heavyweight, is a rather unknown quantity

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   

CONCACAF

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   

 

 

 

 

  



Asian Football Confederation

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 

  

Summer, Suits, & Sochi: Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix Begins Friday

International Soccer

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Transat Québec Saint-Malo: A Race Like No Other

World Skiing

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      

  Olympics Motorsport

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  

Edmonton Eskimos Add Former Maryland Kick Returner Tony Logan

NCAA Football

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    

Simmons looking for Irish to show character as they look to square Bangladesh Cricket Series

New  Zealand Cricket · 

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 

PBA Spare Shots: Bohn, Aulby, Wiseman to Assist with Indianapolis Fundraising Events

Cricket Ireland

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12/06/2012 11:19

NCAA Basketball

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

 

 

Medzhidov to lead Azerbaijan's seven strong boxers London 2012

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

   

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  

Oly Whites defeated by UAE in Austria

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United Soccer Leagues

 

20/07/2012 16:52

     

  



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WSB YEARBOOK: WSB PR IN NUMBERS + PRESS CLIPPINGS - 147

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WSB PR IN NUMBERS PRESS CLIPPINGS WSB IN THE MEDIA www.ecostampa.it

Settimanale

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





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 

 

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 

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 

 



 



 





Major transfers set second WSB season alight

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AMATEURS





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





 

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       



     



APB

   

Dolce & Gabbana

  

       

      



  

 

     

     

AIBA are getting their professional boxing project, the APB, underway. They have signed the first three boxers who will compete as professionals within an AIBA controlled structure. 56 places at the 2016 Olympic Games will be available to APB boxers.

The reigning amateur World super-heavyweight champion, Azerbaijan’s Magomedrasul Medzhidov will join the format, set to begin in autumn 2013.

“I’m very happy I will be in AIBA’s APB project,” said the Azeri. “I also have the chance to represent my country at the Olympic Games.”

Joining as well is great Kazakh Serik Sapiyev [pictured], who won both the 2005 and 2007 World championships at lightwelter and at welterweight took World bronze and silver in both 2009 and 2011. “I want to make it clear that during my career I received so many proposals to go to pro boxing,” said the 28-year-old Sapiyev. “I have also seen bad history about boxers who destroyed their future career. I’m sure [the APB] is a clear, transparent project.”

Also signing for the APB is Korea’s light-flyweight World 2009 bronze and 2011 silver medallist Jong-Hun Shin.

    

    

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www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline left) remains to be seen.

He burnished his reputation against the Baku Fires’ Heybulla Mursalov, surviving a moment of crisis to see out a unanimous win, 68-64 and 69-64 twice, in the 73kgs final. In the first round Derevyanchenko’s cool use of the jab meant the Azeri always found himself on the end of a fist. But before the end of the second round a frenzied assault from Mursalov saw a left hook strike Sergiy down to the canvas. Derevyanchenko’s chin had to withstand a right hook before he held on to the Azeri, containing him before the bell.

Coming out for the third the Ukrainian’s concentration was restored.

Deft footwork kept him a step out of Mursalov’s range and Derevyanchenko’s lead hand probed, setting up heavy crosses and uppercuts from the right hand. The Azeri would unleash bursts of dangerous hooks but left his attacks too late on in a round. The Ukrainian finished cut, but well ahead.

“I knew he fights quite aggressively but I just did what my trainer told me,” said Sergiy of Milano Thunder. “There are no other people who have won it twice.

I worked for it last year, this year and I’m really proud.”

At 61kgs Adlan Abdurashidov, desperate to win after suffering a team final loss with Dynamo Moscow, marched forward, pouring his energy into heavy hooks from either hand. But Juan Romero stood up to him, firing more shots and forcing the Russian to change tactics and move along the outside. A strong seventh and final round looked like it had sealed it for the Mexico City Guerreros boxer. Poor Adlan, already in tears, had his spirits momentarily raised when the wrong winner was announced, before it was confirmed that Romero had

Rest in peace Teofilo Stevenson. Cuba's three time Olympic Champion. Special.

CALLUM SMITH pays tribute to one of the leading lights of amateur boxing's history.

Terribly sad news regarding Teofilo Stevenson. He was an amazing boxer that chose the love of his countrymen over financial reward. RIP. Inspiring.

ANTHONY OGOGO echoes his teammate's sentiments.

taken the split decision, with two 67-66 cards in his favour. The third judge had it 68-65 for Abdurashidov.

“I felt disappointed at the moment the wrong decision was said but I feel very happy that I was recognised as the champion because I feel I gave the extra to win the fight. It was a close fight. My opponent gave his very best also,” said Juan. “He is one of the top fighters in the world, that’s why he reached the final. He has a very difficult style. He doesn’t have a clear style but we tried to figure it out and we came very well prepared to the fight and we got the victory.”

Romero’s team mate Elias Emigdio, who lost to GB’s Khalid Yafai at the Worlds and didn’t make it through the Americas Olympic qualifier, could not contain Baku Fires’ Gairbek Germakhanov at 54kgs. The Mexican threw plenty of leather but often let his fists fly through empty air, anxious to keep the stronger Azeri off . When

Germakhanov struck, he hit smartly and hard, taking a unanimous decision, 69-64 twice and 68-65.

Azerbaijan had a high representation in these finals, with two Baku Fires teammates, Azamat Murtuzaliyev and Ramazan Magomedau, boxing one another at 85kgs. They sounded each other out but the bout was curtailed when Azamat pulled up with a back injury after the third round.

A vocal contingent of Kazakhs had turned out to see the Astana Arlans’ 91&kgs Ruslan Myrsatayev. But Filip Hrgovic, a young Croatian who boxes for Paris United, was too tall and too talented. He thumped long shots into his foe, linking combinations and stopping Myrsatayev in his tracks on occasion.

Wild hooks clubbed upstairs caught out Hrgovic but he still had Ruslan rocking at times. Though unable to put the tough Kazakh away, he took a unanimous decision, 70-62 on all three cards.

TOUGH: Germakhanov (right) makes his strength tell

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Starting their journey to Canada.

Best of luck to you all, Anthony Fowler, Sam Maxwell and Adam Farrell. World Beaters.

NATASHA JONAS voices support for her fellow Liverpudlian boxers as they head to Canada to represent England.

Jealousy gets you nowhere in life.

Remember that.

So HAROON KHAN counsels.

For 30 years I've thought I didn't like pork pies. I've been lying to myself.

LYING!!! Eaten six of the bad boys since last night.

A stunning relevation for JAY SEDDON. That awkward moment when you flip your hair and nobody gets overwhelmed!

Well, this is not a problem for Vested Interest but then we're not World champion SAVANNAH MARSHALL. My heart goes out to Pacquiao, he won that fight last night!

Decisions like that will ruin boxing for the fans. Bad times.

NICOLA ADAMS on one of the week's big issues.

It's funny how the the Spanish ABA won't allow the DVD of our fight to be released to us.

Wonder why.

JOSH SPRAGG was not best pleased with the judging when he boxed in Spain.

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ities beneath Meet the personal John Dennen the headguards with

dual glory

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FISTS OF FURY: But Abdurashidov (right) loses

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UNDER FIRE: But Derevyanchenko (right) handles it

Ringside at the World Series of Boxing individual finals in London

lends itself better to a more raucous atmosphere. The bouts themselves were fought with a quiet intensity, with $10,000 available as prize money as well as a new belt to ornament their waists.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko was the star of the show, retaining the title he won last year. Through that past exploit the Ukrainian did win himself a spot at the 2012 Olympics but the Ukrainian national team withdrew him from the Games to enter Ievgen Khytrov in last year’s World championships, where the latter not only qualified but also won the gold medal. That leaves Derevyanchenko to make his name through professional boxing, though whether he will do that through AIBA’s new entity the APB (see

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CITY BRIEFS

WEB WISDOM

JUNE 14, 2012 | BOXING NEWS | 43 12/06/2012 17:57

Vazirani stretched

D Y Patil 'B', ONGC in last eight D Y Patil 'B' and ONGC registered contrasting wins to advance to the quarterfinals of the Rs 12 lakh prize money 8th All India Dr D Y Patil T20 cricket tournament at the hosts' stadium. While ONGC, powered by a century from Sandeep Sharma, prevailed over Western Railway by 14 runs, the hosts' 'B' squadv outplayed Akbar Travels by nine wickets. In another league match, Reliance One beat BPCL by two runs.

BRIEF SCORES: Akbar Travels 119 for 6 in 20 Overs (Sumeet Meher 49, Larson D’Costa 24; Nikhil Mandle 3 for 10 in 2 Overs ) Lost to Dr D Y Patil 'B' 121 for 1 in 16 Overs (Swapnil Patil 59 not out, Shoeb Shaikh 46 not out). India Cement 202 for 6 in 20 Overs (Shree Kumar Nair 83, K B Arun Karthik 37, Hemang Badani 36; Parag Khanapurkar 2 for 28) beat CBEC 194 all out in 19.2 Overs (Ankit Rawat 48, Balkrishna Shirke 39, Jude Singh 35; G Vignesh 3 for 40, S Suresh 2 for 23, S Suresh Kumar 2 for 26).

ONGC 196 for 5 in 20 Overs (Sandeep Sharma 108 not out Unmukt Chand 21; Kuldeep Goyal 2 for 21) beat Western Railway 182 all out in 19.4 overs (Asad Pathan 53, Ahad Malik 25; Munaf Patel 3 for 39, Amit Mishra 3 for 24, Vikramjeet Malik 2 for 31). Reliance One 169 for 3 in 20 Overs (Rakesh Solanki 64, Apoorv Wankhede 46 not out; Swapnil Hazare 2 for 25) beat BPCL 167 for 9 in 20 Overs (Manish Pandey 46, Bhavin Thakkar 40, Anup Revankar 36, Vinit Indulkar 27, Shridhar Iyer 4 for 30, Amitoz Singh 2 for 36).

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE JANUARY 23

FANCIED Druv Vazirani of Khar Gymkhana survived a scare before winning in four sets to advance to the boys’ under-11 quarter-finals, in the Matunga Gymkhana Junior Open Squash Tournament on Monday. Vazirani, who warmed up with a good start, surprisingly dropped the second set and struggled in the third and fourth before snatching a 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7 second round win over a gritty Vedant Mehra of Otters Club.

In another second round tie, Ansh Vora of Matunga Gymkhana halted Shanay Sanghavi of Bombay Gymkhana 11-5, 11-13, 11-4, 11-4 to join Vazirani in the quarter-finals.

In contrast, third seed Ahan Nalavadi of Matunga Gymkhana eased into the last eight, while top seed Tushar Shahani of Khar Gymkhana sailed into the semi-finals. Unseeded Raghuvir Reddy completed a rewarding day for Khar Gymkhana players when he beat Ashish Gavankar of Matunga Gymkhana 5-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-7 in an exciting boys’ under-15 second round.

The other significant second round winners in the category were third seed Yohann Surti of Willingdon Sports Club and Aryan Hemdev of CCI.

WSH Mumbai team change name IN order to avoid any possible confusion with the Pune IPL team – Sahara Pune Warriors, the Mumbai franchise of World Series Hockey has been rebranded as Mumbai Marines from the earlier name of Mumbai Warriors. The brand identity has been specially designed to incorporate the core values of the team – dynamism, stability and a strong city affiliation. The city boasts of some of the finest players. Adrian D’ Souza, one of the world’s best goalkeepers will captain the side and be ably supported by two former India captains, Viren Rasquinha and Prabodh Tirkey. Exciting young Indian players like the Walmiki brothers, Yuvraj and Devender, along with International superstars like Pedro Ibarra (Argentina), Sung Min Lee (South Korea), Melchior Looijen (Netherlands), Phelie Maguire (Ireland), Connor Grimes (Canada) and Juan Martin Lopez (Argentina) makes Mumbai Marines a world class squad.

Manav wins U-16 title UTPAL Sanghvi’s Manav Pondkule clinched the U-16 title of the MSSA InterSchools Tennis Tournament at the MSSA Tennis courts on Monday. Pondkule beat Podar International's Shjonit Ghia 6-3, 6-4.

In the girls section, Supriya Zende of Loretto Convent was made to toil before overcoming Shazia Khan (St Agnes) 6-3, 26, 10-4.

RESULTS: Boys Under-16: Manav Pondkule (Utpal Sanghvi) bt Shjonit Ghia (Podar International) 6-3, 6-4; Boys under-14: Aryan Goveas (VIBGYOR High) bt Rian Pandole (Cathedral) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; Boys under-12: Poojan Desai (Seth Virachand Dhanji) bt Shanay Amin (AVM, Bandra) 6-3, 6-3; Boys under-10: Darren Pereira (St. Joseph’s, Orlem) bt Ishaan Lumba (Campion) 6-4, 7-5; Girls u16: Supriya Zende (Loretto Convent) bt Shazia Khan (St. Agnes) 6-3, 2-6, 10-4; Girls u-14: Trisha Punamiya (VIBGYOR High) bt Dakshata Patel (St. Theresa) 8-2; Girls u-12: Simran Kejriwal (Billabong) bt Kritika Chabbro (AVMO 9-7; Girls u-10: Durva Deo (Maneckji Cooper) bt Prerana Vichare (Maneckji Cooper) 8-7 (7-0)

Mumbai U-19 enter final MUMBAI pipped Uttar Pradesh to enter the Cooch Behar Trophy under-19 final on Monday after their semi-final match ended in a draw. Mumbai advanced to the summit clash by virtue of first innings lead in the four-day clash at the Wankhede Stadium.The six-time winners would clash with state rivals Maharashtra, who have won the title once, in the final from January 28-31.

BRIEF SCORES: Mumbai 386 and 578 (Akarshit Gomel 151, Akhil Herwadkar 88, Pratik Prabhu 42, Atif Attarwala 56, Harmeet Singh 87 not out; Mohd Javed 3 for 154, Ankit Rajpoot 3 for 110). UP 273 and 56 for no loss (Almas Saukat 13 not out, Ashish Singh 27 not out).

Mumbai’s U-19 captain Harmeet Singh slammed an unbeaten 87 against UP at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai will now meet Maharashtra in the final of the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy.

DO RE MI FA POW

RESULTS Boys U-15 (2nd Rd): Viraj Nadkarni (Bombay Gym) bt Rishik Kabra (CP Club, Nagpur) 11-5, 115, 11-1; Aryan Hemdev (CCI) bt Dhananjay Bhansal (MCA) 11-1,

Mumbai Fighters' Tongan boxer Uaine, a softie at heart, was also a choir singer BHARAT SUNDARESAN & KABIR MANDREKAR JANUARY 23

I

N the ring, he looked every bit a prizefighter. Mean and muscular, trading impetuous blows with his heavyweight counterpart from Russia. A couple of scarlet drops trickled down the side of his mouth, but there was no grimace.

Nor was there an attempt to wipe it off. His naturally squinting eyes remained intense. The fire within them never diminished.

For the 15-odd minutes the babyfaced Uaine Fa Junior spent ducking, weaving and punching against Russia's Arslanbek Makhmudov within the confines of the makeshift boxing ring in Malad on Friday night, he seemed intent on producing only one outcome. Trying his best to knock the oaf-like Mahmudov's lights out.

Now having overcome his Dynamo Moscow opponent on an unanimous decision, it was time for the 22-year-old pugilist from New Zealand to wipe away the sweat and gloat on his impressive victory— that too on debut for the Mumbai Fighters. But as he sat munching on a banana on the sidelines, a sudden sense of edginess seemed to have taken over Fa Junior's generally calm demeanour. It wasn’t really as a result of the jetlag that he was suffering, having landed in the city only a few hours earlier from Auck-

“I cannot possibly knock a mouse out. I wish I could, cause they have forever terrorised me.”

It's not just his phobias, however, that single Fa out as a misfit in the boxing world. For all the avarice towards his opponents in the ring, New Zealand's 2009 national boxing champion is a softie outside it. The Evander Holyfield-fan hates violence and hardly watches boxing at home—this despite Fa Senior having been a boxing star back in his native land of Tonga. “I prefer spending time with friends and playing piano at the church. Till two years ago, I used to be a regular vocalist in the choir,” reveals Fa, whose parents moved to New Zealand post marriage and have been settled in Papakura (South Auckland) ever since. land. The impromptu anxiety was rather because the lights around the mobile boxing arena hosting the World Series of Boxing (WSB) bout had begun to go off one by one.

And though his enormous girth might give Fa a Herculean look and make him an impregnable force while donning the boxing gloves; a childhood phobia still continues to dog him.

“I am still scared of the dark man,” he bellows before adding, “If all the lights go out suddenly, you will see me scampering towards that street-light, where I will stay put.” The unconditional fear of the dark is not the only terror that keeps Fa on the edge, however.

And this despite possessing one of the most destructive right hooks in the WSB. “I cannot possibly knock a mouse out. I wish I could, cause they have forever terrorised me,” says Fa before erupting into loud laughter,

which catches even the team officials by surprise. Was this the same monster creating dents on the giant Russian's face, they would have wondered.

It's not just his phobias, however, that single Fa out as a misfit in the boxing world. For all the avarice towards his opponents in the ring, New Zealand's 2009 national boxing champion is a softie outside it.

The Evander Holyfield-fan hates violence and hardly watches boxing at home—this despite Fa Senior having been a boxing star back in his native land of Tonga.

“I prefer spending time with friends and playing piano at the church. Till two years ago, I used to be a regular vocalist in the choir,” reveals Fa, whose parents moved to New Zealand post marriage and have been settled in Papakura (South Auckland) ever since.

His many inherent fears aside, Fa recalls having been bullied a lot at

home by his two elder brothers.

Mainly owing to his weak physique.

And it was only six years ago that he took to boxing, inspired obviously by his father.

“He didn't think I was fit enough to box so he put me into rugby but I never enjoyed the sport much. And it was only when I turned 16 that he switched me to boxing,” says Fa. And for the record, he won his firstever bout in an intermediate tournament before winning the national golden gloves competition.

There has been no looking back ever since.

Though it was in his adopted land that Fa made his maiden impression as a pugilist, he prefers representing Tonga, citing the lesser competition in the island nation.

“I don’t go to Tonga much though. It's too sleepy and laidback for my liking. The island life is slow for me, and I am now used to the Kiwi-style of living anyway,” he adds.

Fa only got wind of the WSB following the Boxing World Championships in 2011. And when the Mumbai Fighters came calling, it was an offer he couldn't turn his back on. It didn't take much to convince him either, he admits.

“It sounded like a great chance for me and I went for the trials.

There is a lot of money involved.

And it sounded exciting too, since there was no headgear involved.

Even my father was convinced very easily,” says Fa. And on the basis of his overwhelming debut performance against the Russians, Fa Junior certainly looks like a crackerjack pick for the Mumbai Fighters. Just keep the lights on.

Double for Anay, Disha; Cadet Payal best EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE JANUARY 23

BOTH Anay Dave and Disha Shirdhankar justified their respective top billings in the boys and girls junior singles by clinching a double each on the final day of the inaugural Poinsur Gymkhana Inter-School table tennis tournament.

Dave dropped a game to each of his rivals in both the junior and sub-junior events, while Disha outplayed her junior singles rival Sanjana Choudhary in straight games, but was distinctly lucky to beat hard-hitting Payal Bohra in the sub-junior girl’s singles.

Lefthander Bohra, known for her aggressiveness, had herself to blame for losing the final. After dropping the first game through her impetuous stroke play, she managed to go up 2-1 and led 73 in the fourth. With the title just four points away, she tried to hustle through the game with disastrous results. She became too erratic and let slip the fourth game to allow Shirdhankar to take the tie to the decider. Even in the decider, Bohra had chances, but squandered it way by either over-hitting or smashing into the net. Shirdhankar played waiting

Anay Dave in action. game, thus forcing Bohra to commit errors time and again to wrap the tie 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8. There was no stopping Dave as went on to clinch the tie 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5. Raegan Albuquerque showed that he may be small in build but compensated with powerful strokes as he thrashed Devraj Dev in straight games in the cadet boys singles.

RESULTS: Jr boys singles (Final): Anay Dave bt Mudit Dani 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 115. Girls singles (Final): Disha Shirdhankar bt Sanjana Choudhary 11-9, 112, 11-9. Sub-jr boys singles (Semifinals): Mandar Hardikar bt Raegan Albuquerque 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7; Anay Dave bt Mudit Dani 11-4, 11-9, 11-6.

(Final): Anay Dave bt Mandar Hardikar 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6. Sub-jr girls singles (Semifinals): Payal Bohra bt Chesta Shetty 11-3,11-5,11-9; Disha Shirdhankar bt Manushree Patil 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 22-20. (Final): Disha Shirdhankar bt Payal Bohra 6-11, 11-9, 12-10,7-11, 11-8. Cadet boys singles (Semifinals): Raegan Albuquerque bt Shivam Jhunjhunwalla 14-12, 11-9, 11-9; Devraj Dev bt Yajat Thanawala 14-12, 12-10, 11-6.

(Final): Raegan Albuquerque bt Devraj Dev 11-8, 11-2,11-6. Cadet girls singles (Semifinals):Payal Bohrfa bt Aditi Sinha 11-4,11-6, 11-6; Manushree Patil bt Pranjal Shinde 13-11, 6-11, 9-11,11-7, 11-8. (Final): Payal Bohra bt Manushree Patil 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, 1210. Midget girls singles (Final): Aditi Sinha btMihika RDohira 11-1, 11-5, 1412. Midget girls singles (Final): Parth Rambhia bt Yajat Thanawala 3-11, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5.

SQUASH 11-6, 11-7; Yohann Surti (Willingdon SC) bt Rishi Raj Deva (CCI) 11-0, 11-0, 11-5; Raghuvir Reddy (Khar Gym) bt Ashish Gavankar (Matunga Gym) 5-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-7.> 1st Rd: Dhananjay Bhansal bt Tanay Mehra (Oberoi Towers) 11-7, 11-4; Yohann Surti (Willingdon SC) bt Vartik M. Shah (Jolly Gym, Vidyavihar) 11-3, 11-8; Rishi Raj Deva bt Alex Mathani (Goregaon SC) 11-9, 11-6; Pranay Jain (Otters Club) bt Deepankar Paryani (Matunga Gym) 11-4, 11-1; Raghuvir Reddy bt Aryaman Grover (CP Club, Nagpur) 11-0, 111; Ashish Gavankar bt Arjun Dewani (CP Club, Nagpur) 11-0, 11-1.

Boys U-11 (Quarter-finals): 1Tushar Shahani (Khar Gym) bt Parshwa Shah (Country Club) 11-4, 11-0, 11-5. 2nd Rd: Ansh Vora (Matunga Gym) bt Shanay Sanghavi (Bombay Gym) 11-5, 11-13, 114, 11-4; Druv Vazirani (Khar Gym) bt Vedant Mehra (Otters Club) 114, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7; Tanay Punjabi (Otters Club) bt Arjun Chougule (NSCI) 11-1, 11-1, 11-4; Rayhan Walia (NSCI) bt Sameer Khatri (NSCI) 11-1, 11-1, 11-1; 3-Ahaan Nalavadi (Matunga Gym) bt Panthiv Patel (Goregaon SC) 11-3, 114, 11-4. 1st Rd: Tanay Punjabi bt Rajveer Veera (Matunga Gym) 112, 11-0; Yash Dhiryawan (Khar Gym) bt Parzaan Badhniwalla (Willingdon SC) 11-4, 11-0; Rayhan Walia bt Namasya Kabra (CP Club, Nagpur) 11-2, 11-0; Panthiv Patel bt Varun Vaidyanathan (Hiranandani Club) 11-1, 11-4; Ahaan Nalavadi (Matunga Gym) bt Niall Shah (NSCI) 11-3, 11-2.

Mumbai FC slump to fourth consecutive loss EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE JANUARY 23

MUMBAI FC slumped to their fourth loss in a row while Sporting Clube de Goa completed a hat-trick of wins to log their best run in the I-League. A 5-0 win for the latter in the 16th round at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda meant Sporting Clube calmed their nerves as they moved to the 8th spot while Mumbai FC were left languishing in 11th spot – just places clear of the relegation zone.

After a barren first session, Anthony D’Souza opened the account in the 48th minute before James Moga headed home Sporting’s second goal in the 57th minute. Midfielder Macroy Peixoto then scored two quick goals in as many minutes. What looked to be a tight match in the first session turned into a rout in the second when Ogba Kalu converted a penalty in the third minute of added time.

Sporting Clube had plenty of ball possession in the first session but lacked the final touch that would translate a good move into a goal. The home side took the lead three minutes into the first session when substitute Ogba Kalu won a ball from just outside the box, dribbled past two defenders and laid the ball into the path of Anthony who finished with ease. Sporting made it 2-0 almost immediately as James Moga, typically, rose high above the defence to meet Peixoto’s cross close to the goal mouth.

Sporting Clube were coasting at this stage as Mumbai FC were unable to stitch any good moves.

WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET

12/06/2012 17:57

WSB YEARBOOK: WSB PR IN NUMBERS + PRESS CLIPPINGS - 149

SEASON’S BEST QUOTES WSB IN THE MEDIA “I came from a family of boxers and I just want to make them proud by winning. I also hope to inspire others to take up the sport of boxing; it is a real passion of mine, setting an example and motivating others to done gloves and take part in one of the purest of disciplines.”

Abdelhafid Benchabla (Astana Arlans) “I know I am young but I am hungry. Boxing is what I love and is my chosen career. I am confident in my abilities.

I’m not afraid of anyone; this is just the way I am. No matter the pedigree of the fighter in front of me, if he is world champion or not, I am always full of confidence.”

Leanid Charnabayeu (Venky’s Mumbai Fighters) “My teammates and I have been working extremely hard for two seasons now and we wanted that title so badly. I think in our first season we were unlucky, in the

second we managed to showcase all of our strengths. I thought about all these things after my match, but the best moment was when the team stepped into the ring and Clemente raised the trophy as we all celebrated this fantastic achievement.”

Sergiy Derevyanchenko (Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder) “I lived in Zitlala until I was 4 years old. I have a few memories about it. I remember it was a hard place to live in, it is a place of extreme poverty and people lack the basics for their daily living. It is still a beautiful place though, full of tradition with a very interesting history.

My family had the opportunity to move to have a better life and did so, but we still go back to visit and it helps me to stay grounded because I have never forgotten where I came from. My father was a boxer. He gave me my first boxing lessons. My mother though is the most passionate for the sport; she is a big fan of boxing. My mother and I used to act me becoming World Champion.

Now I am working hard on making it a reality.”

Elias Emigdio (Mexico City Guerreros) “Boxing was my calling, I played rugby but boxing was the one for me, I knew it straight from the first instant I donned gloves. It is in my blood, my father was a boxer and it just came naturally to me. The rest of my family had to be convinced at first but when they saw how dedicated I was, they knew it was the right choice. And look at me now; I am competing in one of the world’s best boxing competitions.”

Uaine Fa Junior (Venky’s Mumbai Fighters) “There is no way I would leave the WSB next season, I love this competition. After the defeat against Milano Thunder in the semi-finals, we have unfinished business.

I will be doing my utmost to ensure we take the WSB Team Trophy home with us next season.”

Gairbek Germakhanov (Baku Fires) “WSB is great, I love it. It allows me to box regularly and get invaluable experience against the top amateurs in the world. I want to win every match, which is the only way to become a Champion. You learn so much from every fight you are in and I think it is experience that helps develop a boxer, both physically and mentally.”

Filip Hrgovic (Paris United) “I just try to eat healthy, not too many carbs, more proteins and no sugars before the fight. I mean everyone wants to look good on TV and all the people who are watching. Got to seal myself sometime, then I don’t want to appear as a fat untrained person.”

Kennedy Katende (Mexico City Guerreros)

product. Furthermore, you get to know the calendar a year in advance so it is great to be able to tailor your training specifically around it. I think that the WSB is like a breath of fresh air in the sport, being able to work in a team takes pressure off the boxers. Everyone I have spoken to would like to compete in the WSB.” Ruslan Myrsatayev (Astana Arlans) “When you walk in town in the Milano Thunder uniform, there is always someone who wants to talk to you, encourage you or ask for a photo with you. This is a wonderful feeling, you feel part of the city and it gives you a sense of responsibility for the whole team. You know you need to do everything in your power to not disappoint your fans who come to watch and support the team. This is a great motivation to work even harder.”

Michal Olas (Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder)

“This season was definitely the most challenging. The level of boxing increased dramatically this year. At the moment, the WSB is one of the strongest competitions in the world and it is great as it is still in the developing stages. That is why it pleases me so much to know that I am now a World Champion.”

Ramazan Magomedau (Baku Fires) “It is not matter of if you are skillful and talented; it is a matter of how much you are willing to sacrifice, work and above all your desire to win! If you don’t work, talent means nothing. To win matches and to stay at the top level for the long term requires true dedication.”

Bahram Muzaffer (Istanbul Bosphorus) “I really like the WSB format, the concept of teams competing against each other; it is a fantastic new

WSB YEARBOOK: SEASON’S BEST QUOTES - 151

“Boxing is a lifestyle. In life, as in boxing, you can achieve what you want. There is so much to gain and so much reward if you dedicate yourself. When you put in all you can, good results will come your way. However you need to keep that focus, that drive, or else you will fall hard. That is why you should never stop giving your best.

You need to give all you have got as if it was your last fight but also it is very important to enjoy yourself. Every person should dedicate themselves to do what they love.

Loving what you do will always make it easier.”

Juan Romero (Mexico City Guerreros) “The team really has a sense of identity. WSB has introduced the world to a whole new boxing format that has really excited the people here in Italy, brining a new audience and new fans thank to its innovative product.”

Clemente Russo (Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder) “I was not a quiet child, I was quite hyperactive. Therefore I learnt to channel my energy through training, boxing gave me a focus and since then I have not looked back. I now cannot imagine my life without it, there is nothing I enjoy more than hitting the gym, training and ultimately climbing into the ring. Above all though my father is the one responsible as he introduced me to the sport and has coached and encouraged me ever since.”

Konstantin Snigour (Venky’s Mumbai Fighters) “Brahim Asloum is a great example for others to follow, especially for me but I know he has inspired many boxers worldwide. He is almost a legend in the sport. Look at what he has won in boxing, all his trophies, his medals, it is just unreal. An Olympic Champion and several times World Champion, there is not much more to say.”

Michel Tavares (Paris United)

“I am as at ease in the ring, wearing my boxing uniform, than when wearing a jacket and tie. I think elegance is something connected with the behaviour and not the dress, so I can be as elegant when I am boxing as when I am dressed up for the occasion.”

Domenico Valentino (Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder) “My brother Anand has always been my source of inspiration. Despite being younger than me, on his very small daily wages he bought me shoes, bandages and all the equipment I needed so it is thanks to him that I am where I am today. I know nothing else other than boxing and he has supported me throughout my career.

He would squeeze his expenses to make sure I got all the support I needed. I owe my life to him.”

Siddharth Varma (Venky’s Mumbai Fighters)

WSB YEARBOOK: SEASON’S BEST QUOTES - 153

World Series of Boxing S.A. would like to thank the following people and organizations, without whom the successful inaugural season would not have been possible Our official glove supplier Top Ten Our 12 teams and their hard work in the second season All 194 AIBA National Federations and their support All WSB Supervisors, Referees & Judges and Ringside Doctors Swiss Timing Mediasprint And last but not least, all the staff at AIBA and WSB

WORLD SERIES OF BOXING Avenue de Rhodanie 54 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland www.worldseriesboxing.com

SECOND SEASON, 2011-2012 WSB WEBSITE

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SECOND SEASON, 2011-2012