World Series of Boxing

The World Series of Boxing had a precursor in the International Boxing League, a short-lived U.S. venture established in November 1969 after the first U.S.—Soviet boxing dual meet in 1969. The league functioned until 1971 and hosted several exhibition tours of the Soviet boxing team across the United States to cities where IBL teams were located. Bill Daniels was the boss of the league. The league folded due to the unprofitable nature of amateur boxing in North America.

Unlike in amateur boxing at the start of the World Series of Boxing's existence, competitors fought bare-chested and were not permitted to wear protective headgear. Each participating boxer was drafted by one of its international franchises, and could earn money by taking part in professional-style bouts. The competitors were allowed to maintain Olympic and AIBA world championship eligibility.

Like professional boxing, each bout was decided by the scores of three judges, or by a knockout, a technical knockout or a walkover. A WSB meet between two international franchises consisted of bouts in ten (formerly five) weight categories. The fights consisted of five three-minute rounds in each bout and the team that won the most number of bouts won the meet.^[2]

Until season 4, the World Series of Boxing had five weight categories which were different from the 10 categories in amateur (Olympic) boxing or 17 categories in professional boxing. These were Heavyweight (91+ kg), Light heavyweight (80–85 kg), Middleweight (68–73 kg), Lightweight (57–61 kg) and Bantamweight (50–54 kg). In the fourth season (2013–14), the number of weight classes was increased to ten, mirroring amateur (Olympic) boxing.

• Light flyweight (46–49 kg)
• Flyweight (-52 kg)
• Bantamweight (-56 kg)
• Lightweight (-60 kg)
• Light welterweight (-64 kg)
• Welterweight (-69 kg)
• Middleweight (-75 kg)
• Light heavyweight (-81 kg)
• Heavyweight (-91 kg)
• Super heavyweight (91+ kg)

• Boxing World Cup