Baku to host World Series of Boxing Finals
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijan's capital Baku will host the WSB Season IV Finals on June 6-7.
The World Series of Boxing (WSB) accepted Azerbaijani Baku Fires team's offer to host the event in Baku after the Ukraine cancelled plans to stage the event due to current tense situation in the country.
AIBA President and WSB Board Chairman Ching-Kuo Wu said WSB is very pleased that it has found a host city at last minutes after Ukraine withdrew from hosting the event.
"Baku has already hosted several AIBA and WSB competitions and we are confident with the Azeri's franchise's ability to successfully organize and manage this important event," he said.
"We sincerely appreciate Azerbaijani Baku Fires for supporting us in such a difficult situation and we are looking forward to two exciting nights of world-class boxing," he said.
Prior to gratefully accepting this offer, the WSB consulted with the Cuba Domadores franchise on the newly-proposed location for the finals. The Cuban team provided WSB with their positive feedback and emphasized that it is convinced that Baku Fires can organize the top-level event.
Both matches will be streamed worldwide via aibaboxingtv.com.
The World Series of Boxing (WSB) is one of the most exciting emerging sports leagues in the world. Bringing together the best boxers on the planet to compete in a team format across ten weight categories, the WSB represents a whole new way of thinking about boxing.
Developed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), the WSB is a unique concept. It is the first ever pro-style competition where boxers retain their Olympic eligibility and moreover, the first event which sees national-based pro boxing teams go head to head in a league format.
Endorsed by nearly 200 National Federations, it represents the future of boxing. The WSB marked a new era in the sport of boxing when it launched its first season on 19 November 2010. Since then the league has gained momentum.