WSB : LIONHEARTS vs MEXICO GUERREROS

Olympic silver medalist John Joe Nevin and European champion Joe Ward have been named on a powerful looking British Lionhearts side for the first leg of their World Series of Boxing Team Championships quarter-final with the Mexico Guerreros at York Hall, London.

Belfast’s Conrad Cunmmings lines out for the visitors.

The Holy Trinity BC middleweight faces Aston Brown in the English capital.

The March 22 showdown will have a distinctly “four-nations” feel about it as boxers from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales will be between the ropes at the iconic London venue.

Ward, currently ranked No. 3 in the WSB Individual rankings, will be aiming to rack up his fifth WSB victory from six outings versus fellow southpaw Christian Demaj.

Nevin, who helped Paris United win out the inaugural 2010/11 WSB Team Championships trophy, is in against experienced WSB campaigner Fernando Alverez-Diaz.

Aston Brown is eagerly looking forward to his five-rounder with Cummings and has been doing his homework on the Ulster stand out.

He said : “I’ve watched my opponent on tape a couple of times and I think it should be a good bout.  He likes to come forward and throw punches whereas I like to stay back and box at range so we have contrasting styles which should make it quite a contest.

“My team-mates have told me that the atmosphere in York Hall has been fantastic for all of the recent World Series Boxing matches so I am really looking to boxing there and hope to put on a good show as I have family and friends coming to watch.”

Welsh wizard Andrew Selby meets Aaron Alameda-Lopez looking to stretch his unbeaten run to six.

“My next opponent will be tough – like all Mexicans”, said Selby. “But if I maintain my good form and continue to box and move, then I am hopeful that I can come away with a victory and extend my unbeaten run”.

Both sides meet again in the return leg in Mexico on March 29. Likewise, the Lionhearts will be looking to secure a maximum 5-0 advantage at York Hall.

Tickets prices start at £20 and can be purchased at www.britishlionhearts.com/tickets or on the door at York Hall.
Lionhearts v Guerreros York Hall, London March 22.
Bantamweight (54kg)
Andrew SELBY (British Lionhearts) vs Aaron ALAMEDA LOPEZ (Mexico Guerreros)

Lightweight (61kg)
John Joe NEVIN (British Lionhearts) vs Fernando ALVAREZ DIAZ (Mexico Guerreros)

Middleweight (73kg)
Aston BROWN (British Lionhearts) vs Conrad CUMMINGS (Mexico Guerreros)

Light-heavyweight (85kg)
Joe WARD (British Lionhearts) vs Christian DEMAJ (Mexico Guerreros)

Heavyweight (91kg+)
Joe JOYCE (British Lionhearts) vs Milutin STANKOVIC (Mexico Guerreros)

Established in 2010, the World Series of Boxing is a national team boxing competition made-up of 12 teams from across the world.  A match between two international franchises consists of bouts in five weight categories: bantamweight (54kg), lightweight (61kg), middleweight (73kg), light-heavyweight (85kg) and heavyweight (91kg+).

Competitors box without vests and head guards and the World Series Boxing scoring system is based on the ‘ten point must system’. Each bout is decided by the scores of three judges or by a knockout, technical knockout, disqualification or walk over.  There are five three-minute rounds in each bout and the team that wins the most number of bouts wins the match.

For more information on the British Lionhearts see www.britishlionhearts.com or follow @Brit_Lionhearts on twitter.

By Bernard O’Neill