Mumbai Fighters all set to host Astana Arlans in WSB

High on confidence after a clean sweep over Los Angeles Matadors last week, the home team Venky’s Mumbai Fighters is all set to host Astana Arlans in their fifth Group-A match of the ongoing World Series of Boxing (WSB) season 2011-12 on December 16, 2011. Both teams came face-to-face during the weigh-in conference at Inorbit Mall (Malad) on Thursday.

This would be their first encounter against each other this season at the T-Box Mobile Arena on Friday. The two sides have secured seven points each in four matches that they have played in the Group. Both teams have won two and lost two. However, Venky’s Mumbai Fighters stand a place above Astana Arlans as the hosts have won 12 bouts out of 20, whereas the visitors have won 10.

Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder is leading the Group A table with 12 points. With seven points each, Dynamo Moscow are placed second followed by Venky’s Mumbai Fighters and Astana Arlans. LA Matadors are placed in the fifth position with six points and Bangkok Elephants are yet to open their account.

In Group B, Baku Fires is leading the table with 12 points, Leipzig Leopards with 9 points is at number two, Mexico City Guerreros with seven points is at number three and Paris United, Beijing Dragons and Istanbul Bosphorus are at number four, five and six with 4, 3 and 2 points respectively.

Lineup for the match on Friday:

Bantamweight

Balbir Singh (World Cadet Championship gold medalist – 2002, Commonwealth Championships silver medalist – 2005, Senior National championship gold medalist – 2004 & 2007

Vs

Khabibulla Ismail Akhunov (0-1 WSB record. Lost first match this season)

Lightweight:

Diwakar Prasad (Sub Junior Champion: 1997-2000, Junior National Champion 2001, Senior National Champion 2002, 2003, 2007, Senior National 2004, 2009 bronze)

Vs

Mussafirov Yerzhan (No. 1 ranked, has a 7-3 WSB record. Lost first match this season)

Middleweight:

Sanjin Pol Vrgoc – Croat (2006 Zlatko H., Zagreb – Silver medalist 2007 Arena Cup, Zagreb – Gold medalist, Three times national champion – 2006, 2007, 2010)

Vs

Miras Bairkhanov (0-1 WSB record)

Light Heavyweight:

Leanid Charnabayeu – Belarusian (National Champion 2010 – Gold, Junior World Championship, Baku, fifth placed, Second place in a tri-nation tournament)

Vs

Abdelhafid Benchabla (No. 1 WSB boxer, 7-1 WSB record. Lost his first match this season)

Heavyweight:

Krishan Kumar (National Games gold medalist – 2007, AK Mishra International tournament silver medalist – 2010, National Games silver medalist – 2010)

Vs

Chouaib Bouloudinats (3-2 WSB record)