WSB Boxing: Guess What Team the Cuba Domadores Are Going Up Against in the Playoffs!

Cuba vs. USA in WSB quarter-finals The World Series of Boxing (WSB) has announced an exciting line-up for the Season IV quarter-finals after ten outstanding weeks of boxing in the Regular Season. Although there are still two matches to be contested on March 12th which may affect which teams will face each other, but their results will not impact upon which teams have made it through to the Playoffs. We do know however that the biggest match announced will be the USA Knockouts against the Cuba Domadores which will take place on Friday March 28th (1st Leg) in Miami and Friday 4th April (2nd Leg) in Havana. The excitement around that match has already begun to rise with ESPN Deportes and Radio Habana Cuba already running features on it. The historic nature of the match, which will feature current World and Olympic Champions, is likely to generate ever more interest among boxing fans the world-over as the event draws ever nearer. Quarter-finalists profiles Astana Arlans Kazakhstan (will face Team Germany) The defending Champions, the Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won Season III in imperious fashion but were pushed very close in the Finals by the Ukraine Otamans. Having won seven of their ten matches in the Regular Season, amassing 22 points in the process, the “Alpha Wolves” look like a dangerous prospect again this year. The unveiling of their latest addition to the team, World Champion and AIBA Best Boxer 2013 Daniyar Yeleussinov, in the final week of the Regular Season, has only strengthened their hand. Team Germany (will face the Astana Arlans Kazakshtan) Consistent, solid and a handful for anyone, the German team has been in top form this season. With 12 points from 9 matches, and with a match in hand against Ukraine, the Eagles have a strong line-up across all 10 WSB weight categories. Star Boxer Erik Pfeifer remains unbeaten at Super Heavyweight (91+kg) and the World bronze medallist will comfortable leading this team out against anyone put in front of him. Russian Boxing Team (will face the Ukraine Otamans or Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder) Pre-season, much to the surprise of many, most of the coaches at the Official Draw were not discussing the arrival of the highly talented Cubans, but talking in hushed tones about the risk faced by the emergence of a new refurbished and lethal looking Russian Boxing Team. Their concerns have proven to be justified. Even when the Russians allowed their fringe boxers to compete this year, they looked dangerous. They are cold and ruthless in the ring and with their take-no-prisoners style of fighting, they will represent an unpleasant night in the office for whoever is destined to face them. Ukraine Otamans (will face the Azerbaijan Baku Fires or Russian Boxing Team) Last Season’s runners-up pushed the eventual Champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan to the closest ever Finals the WSB has seen. The match went right down to the wire, with it requiring nothing short of a tiebreaker bout to decide the evening. Despite all the turbulence the athletes have faced on the home-front in recent months, they have remained as clinical as ever between the ropes. This just underlines exactly how professional and focused these guys are in their approach to their ring-craft. They are just as capable as anyone else of going all the way this year. Azerbaijan Baku Fires (will face the Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder or Ukraine Otamans) The Azeri’s boldly stated in the pre-season that they wanted to fight the top teams in the Regular Season and insisted that they would still be good enough to go to the Playoffs. Their prediction seems to have been spot on. The WSB “Bad Boys” have earned a reputation for being willing to stand and fight anyone. They are fearless, talented (and as one of the teams to have competed in all four WSB seasons to date), experienced. This is a dangerous combination for whoever comes out against them. Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder (will face the Azerbaijan Baku Fires of Russian Boxing Team) If the Germans are almost stereotypically “consistent”, then the Italians are most definitely “stylish”. Featuring one of the most exciting international line-ups, the Season II winners have almost inevitably made it into the Playoffs again. With talent in their ranks from the UK, France and even as far away as the Philippines, the Group A leaders have the resources to draw upon to compete against anyone in the world. With all eyes on Kazakhstan and Cuba, it could be the Italians who surprise this season. Cuba Domadores (will face the USA Knockouts) Exploding into the WSB this year, the Cuba Domadores have been a boxing sensation. With a line-up comprising of multiple World and Olympic medalists, the Cubans look to be a class above the rest. Winning 39 of their 45 bouts so far, the Cubans were statistically the most successful team and they still have a match in hand. Their historic match against the USA Knockouts in the quarter-finals will have boxing fans bursting with excitement. USA Knockouts (will face the Cuba Domadores) The USA talent scouts were obviously hard at work in the Pre-season last year. That is the only thing that can explain the stunning emergence of such a group of young boxers and untapped talent. The US coaches, seem to have specialized in bringing in highly talented boxers who have somehow flown under the radar of other teams. World bronze medalist Gabriel Maestre is a prime example at Welterweight (69kg). The Venezuelan has shot up the WSB rankings in his debut season and is now the number three ranked boxer in the category. Can the talented young team raise their game further to defeat the unbeaten Domadores? Only time will tell. Article Link: http://www.worldseriesboxing.com/index.php/news/543-cuba-vs-usa-in-wsb-quarter-finals Pretty important matchup... Wonder how some of those Cuban boxers are gonna feel once they see Miami!

Comments (20)

lol That's the only time I watch soccer, too! I love me some World Cup, bro. The excitement is like on...eleven. lol Anyway, it's nice to know our guys even play soccer well. It's not like soccer is even talked about in Cuba. they are trying to develope soccer talent down there, but it takes time. they show a lot of euro league games to get the kids interested and pick up the sport at a young age and i think their team is improving. but boxing and baseball are first

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

i dont follow mls but i knew a few years back america chivas had a cuban by the name of maikel galindo that was pretty good from what a hear, he was a scorer or whatever you call that. i onyl watch soccer when the world cup commences lol That's the only time I watch soccer, too! I love me some World Cup, bro. The excitement is like on...eleven. lol Anyway, it's nice to know our guys even play soccer well. It's not like soccer is even talked about in Cuba.

12y ago

Cubanborn87

Saw the article; haven't read it yet. Just got the mag today. Nice pictures. lol Didn't know we had a soccer player in MLS. lol i dont follow mls but i knew a few years back america chivas had a cuban by the name of maikel galindo that was pretty good from what a hear, he was a scorer or whatever you call that. i onyl watch soccer when the world cup commences

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

lol did you read the story on the rigo and perez story. it had some info i had not seen before. very interesting Saw the article; haven't read it yet. Just got the mag today. Nice pictures. lol Didn't know we had a soccer player in MLS. lol

12y ago

Cubanborn87

I remember hearing and reading about those guys. As with everything else, I guess they've lost their clout. BTW, I picked up that ESPN "Cuba" issue from some guy on eBay. I never got around to buying one at the newsstand. lol Good shit, bro! lol did you read the story on the rigo and perez story. it had some info i had not seen before. very interesting

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Every neighborhood has a CDR, and the people running the CDR keep tabs on everyone in the neighborhood, who looks like is making money on the side, who has tourists coming to their house etc etc. And this snitches are the ones that land people in jail. My dad almost got a huge fine or jail time because everytime family comes from america we stay at his big house and people at the CDR were getting jealous of his success so they told the goverment that the tourists that stay at his house mess with the kids in the neighborhood etc etc and almost got him in a bunch of trouble. This is different now, but back in the day man even if you didnt go to your revolutionary CDR meetings they would keep an eye on you. I remember hearing and reading about those guys. As with everything else, I guess they've lost their clout. BTW, I picked up that ESPN "Cuba" issue from some guy on eBay. I never got around to buying one at the newsstand. lol Good shit, bro!

12y ago

Cubanborn87

With time, and the aging of the Castro brothers, the communists are gradually losing their grip. There was a time when the government had some of the best internal intelligence in the world. They ran a tight ship. In the early days, when they had more believers in the system, people would snitch on their co-workers, neighbors, etc. I read a book years ago, about this man who spent 27 years in a Cuban political prison. To this day, he's not certain what landed him there. The best he could come up with was that he might've said something "counter-revolutionary" at work one day. Every neighborhood has a CDR, and the people running the CDR keep tabs on everyone in the neighborhood, who looks like is making money on the side, who has tourists coming to their house etc etc. And this snitches are the ones that land people in jail. My dad almost got a huge fine or jail time because everytime family comes from america we stay at his big house and people at the CDR were getting jealous of his success so they told the goverment that the tourists that stay at his house mess with the kids in the neighborhood etc etc and almost got him in a bunch of trouble. This is different now, but back in the day man even if you didnt go to your revolutionary CDR meetings they would keep an eye on you.

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

lock down lol but then i am sure they do it everywhere else too. That's what I think. They must be on extra-tight security when they're in the U.S.

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

That's good to hear. I wonder why many Cubans on the island never spoke up against that propaganda. The possibility of getting jailed can olny scare a person so far. With time, and the aging of the Castro brothers, the communists are gradually losing their grip. There was a time when the government had some of the best internal intelligence in the world. They ran a tight ship. In the early days, when they had more believers in the system, people would snitch on their co-workers, neighbors, etc. I read a book years ago, about this man who spent 27 years in a Cuban political prison. To this day, he's not certain what landed him there. The best he could come up with was that he might've said something "counter-revolutionary" at work one day.

12y ago

Cubanborn87

Why do you think that is? lock down lol but then i am sure they do it everywhere else too.

12y ago

Artillery

Some of the more hardcore communists in Cuba bought into that propaganda, but the Cuban people as a whole never did. That's good to hear. I wonder why many Cubans on the island never spoke up against that propaganda. The possibility of getting jailed can olny scare a person so far.

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

But thin about it the cuban national team has played here more than a handful of times lately, i can only think of one defection. they usually defect during other torunaments Why do you think that is?

12y ago

Cubanborn87

I can certainly see that, but there are many less-heralded Cuban athletes that defect all the time. You just don't hear about them, unless they make some noise later. Yasiel Puig, for instance, is one of those guys. He didn't arrive with the fanfare of Yoenis Cespedes, but he became an overnight sensation in last year's baseball season. I don't doubt that at least a couple of the lesser Cuban fighters bounce in Miami. And, who knows? One of them can wind up as boxing's answer to Puig. But thin about it the cuban national team has played here more than a handful of times lately, i can only think of one defection. they usually defect during other torunaments

12y ago

Cubanborn87

That propaganda that the Castro govt. feeds to them is pretty damn powerful though... It's nice to see most Cubans on the island not feeding into that! I bet you in the 70s and 60s that was the case, but the funny things about cubans in the island is they see americans as neighbors. they love american music, american sports american movies etc. When american tourists visit everyone is eager to talk to these distant neighbors to get a feel for their country and culture etc.

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

That propaganda that the Castro govt. feeds to them is pretty damn powerful though... It's nice to see most Cubans on the island not feeding into that! Some of the more hardcore communists in Cuba bought into that propaganda, but the Cuban people as a whole never did.

12y ago

CubanGuyNYC

You know the Cuban govt. ain't sendin their top guns to the U.S... ESPECIALLY to Miami! I can certainly see that, but there are many less-heralded Cuban athletes that defect all the time. You just don't hear about them, unless they make some noise later. Yasiel Puig, for instance, is one of those guys. He didn't arrive with the fanfare of Yoenis Cespedes, but he became an overnight sensation in last year's baseball season. I don't doubt that at least a couple of the lesser Cuban fighters bounce in Miami. And, who knows? One of them can wind up as boxing's answer to Puig.

12y ago

Artillery

I doubt it man , Cubans as a whole don't see USA as the evil empire. I have gone to many USA vs Cuba matches baseball soccer and even volleyball and never saw any political rallies around it. It was all sports related fun. That propaganda that the Castro govt. feeds to them is pretty damn powerful though... It's nice to see most Cubans on the island not feeding into that!

12y ago

Artillery

That's what I'm wondering about. I also wouldn't doubt if some less talented fighters jump ship in Miami. It's going to be very, very interesting to see what happens when with that Cuban team. The tournament results have now officially taken a backseat to intrigue. Maybe... They just see the U.S. as a source of opportunity! Many of the second tier Cuban boxers have some fan friendly styles that would appeal to Americans.

12y ago

Cubanborn87

That's what I'm wondering about. I also wouldn't doubt if some less talented fighters jump ship in Miami. It's going to be very, very interesting to see what happens when with that Cuban team. The tournament results have now officially taken a backseat to intrigue. We might see one or 2 defections, the baseball team has played here almost every year and the weird thing is you barely hear of a defection here which is odd

12y ago

Artillery

I'm wondering if the Cuban team will even have decent fighters left for the rest of the tournament. I can see the best talent disappearing into the night in Miami. You know the Cuban govt. ain't sendin their top guns to the U.S... ESPECIALLY to Miami!

12y ago