AIBA World Series of Boxing in september 2010

First WSB franchise meetings underway

AIBA and its World Series of Boxing (WSB) partner IMG have completed the crucial first leg in a packed schedule of meetings with potential franchise holders as the WSB enters a key phase in its early development. The month of April saw a WSB delegation, led by WSB Chief Operating Officer Ivan Khodabakhsh and IMG Senior Vice President Julian Brand, meet with potential partners in Europe and Asia. After visiting Russia, Italy, Korea, the Philippines and India, next on the agenda for the WSB delegation are trips to China, Kazakhstan, France, Germany and England. The WSB will feature a total of 12 franchises across three continents - Americas, Asia and Europe.

In September 2010 the World Series of Boxing (WSB) will signal a new beginning in the global boxing world - a fresh new concept from AIBA with a city based franchised league of professional boxing, established on a global basis.

• Three continental conferences
• Four franchises in each conference
• 12 franchisees
• Each match between teams will consist of five bouts (one per weight class), of five rounds, of three minutes each
• 75 matches in each season

The WSB will consist of five weight categories:

• Bantamweight
• Lightweight
• Middleweight
• Light Heavyweight
• Heavyweight

The WSB will be annually held and allow aspiring boxers to compete professionally without having to sacrifice their dreams of competing on behalf of their countries at the Olympic Games. AIBA will provide a bridge between Olympic boxing and Professional boxing, with the WSB being the only professional series in which boxers will retain their Olympic eligibility.

The boxers will compete within teams across three global regions: Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Each bout will be made up of five rounds of three minutes per bout, with not vests or headgear. In addition, boxers will be provided with reliable income and a guaranteed schedule of bouts. This will allow the boxers to grow in technique and style.

The WSB will crown both individual boxers and city-based teams as World Champions. The Individual championships will consist of the top two boxers in each weight category competing for the title of World Series of Boxing Champion.