MILAN: The World Series of Boxing Season VIII kicked off Friday with a strong first week of boxing action that includes three matches: two from the Group Europe and one from the Group Americas.
Season VIII follows the successful three-group format with 12 teams competing in the regional regular season and global play-offs to win the WSB trophy.
The Italia Thunder met WSB debutants Croatian Knights in Florence’s Pala Mandela stadium on Friday evening in a key Group Europe contest and the very first match of the new Season VIII.
Two-time WSB Champions Cuba Domadores hosted Colombia Heroicos in their first taste of Season VIII action on Friday night in Havana.
The legendary Salle Wagram, located in Paris, welcomed Season VIII in style with one the most vibrant rivalries in the European boxing scene. Season I Champions, France Fighting Roosters met the British Lionhearts in an early clash between two teams meant to top the Group Europe.
All the boxing action was be available live on WSB Facebook.
Season VIII sees 12 teams compete in three regional groups; America, Europe and Asia, with home and away matches, consisting of five bouts each, between the group rivals.
Marking a return to the league for Asis will also be Team India. The yet-to-be-named franchise, fully owned by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), replaced Mumbai Fighters, the team that had withdrawn in 2012 due to lack of support from the national body at the time.
The top two teams from each group and the two strongest third-placed teams will qualify for the play-offs, which assume the format of four Quarter-Finals, two Semi-Finals and the grand Final.
Season VIII features the stars of the 2017 AIBA World Championships and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. WSB boxers accounted for 23 Olympic medals at the Games, including 6 Golds.
