#WSBV Day 13 – Who will win the second WSB African derby between Algeria Desert Hawks and Morocco Atlas Lions?
17 April 2015
Rabii
The second ever World Series of Boxing (WSB) African derby between Algeria Desert Hawks and Morocco Atlas Lions is one of the highlights in week 13 of the competition.
With just two matches to go in the Regular Season for both teams, the bragging rights for an entire continent will be decided after this fixture.
Morocco won the first meeting 3-2 in Casablanca, but Algeria will be desperate for revenge in their last home match of the season.
Chalane Hocine, Blida is the venue for this Group A clash, where on Saturday 18th April fans across the world can watch the action free, live and on demand from 19:00 (GMT +1) at AIBABoxingTV.com.
The Light flyweights (49 kg) open proceedings in Blida where Algeria’s 0-4 Zoheir Toudjine faces Morocco’s 1-4 Zouhir El Bekkali.
No Algerian Light flyweight has won a match this season, while El Bekkali achieved Morocco’s lone victory at the weight class in week three when he defeated Britain’s Ashley Williams.
El Bekkali was stopped in round two of his last match by Mexico’s Joselito Velázquez Altamirano, while Toudjine has gone the distance in all four of his bouts so could have the advantage in terms of fitness and stamina.
0-3 Bantamweight (56 kg) Fahem Hammachi was last seen in action for Algeria on the losing end of a split decision verdict against Britain’s Sean McGoldrick, and he returns to action this week when he meets 2-2 Mohamed Hamout.
The Moroccan has lost both of his away matches in Season V, but has beaten top quality opposition at home including Ukraine’s Mykola Butsenko and Britain’s Qais Ashfaq which means he will be the favourite to succeed despite being the away fighter.
Ahmed Boudiaf has been one of Algeria’s best boxers across the campaign, with two home successes out of three attempts.
His opponent in the African derby is 1-5 Light welterweight (64 kg) Hamza El Barbari who superbly defeated Ukraine’s Dmytro Grynchenko in his last contest to seal a memorable victory for Morocco.
Boudiaf and El Barbari are very accomplished fighters, and their clash is sure to be an all-action affair that could be a crucial match on the night.
Ilyas Abbadi is ranked number eight in the Middleweight (75 kg) rankings, which means the Desert Hawk will be full of confidence when he battles Said Harnouf.
Abbadi achieved his third successive home win a fortnight ago against AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Anthony Fowler, while Harnouf has gone the distance in all four of his fights this season.
The last bout in Blida is
at Heavyweight (91 kg) where Bouziane Houna seeks his second Algerian victory against Morocco’s 1-1 Amine Azzouzi.
