http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/abdelhafid_benchabla/73363 Recent articles about Abdelhafid Benchabla en-us Ukraine first in Team Finals with massive blow over Italian defending Champion (5-0) Led by superstar Vasyl Lomachenko, the Otamans have sent shockwaves to World Series of Boxing (WSB) by coming back from a 1-4 loss last week in the first leg and eliminating last season's winner Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder in the semi-finals. Offering an impressive clean sheet to the 7,000 spectators of the Palace of Sports in Kiev, Ukraine reaches the WSB Team Finals for their very first participation in the competition. Credit: World Series of Boxing With Italian Bantamweight (50-54kg) Daniele Limone unable to make the weight and therefore to face Mykola Butsenko in an official bout, the match started at Lightweight (57-61kg) with two-times Olympic and World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko going toe-to-toe with tough and experienced 2009 AIBA World Champion, Domenico Valentino of Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder. The two had already met in the semi-finals of the AIBA World Boxing Champion... Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:35:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/ukraine_kazakhstan_to_meet_in_wsb_team_finals/13448899 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/ukraine_kazakhstan_to_meet_in_wsb_team_finals/13448899 Ukraine & Kazakhstan to meet in WSB team finals http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/ukraine_kazakhstan_to_meet_in_wsb_team_finals/13448899 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/5/a57d6c70e24c111ba7f7664c94a17c0415d71b9d/mini/olympics-day-boxing.jpg Ukraine puts on world class line-up against Italy The 7,000-seater Sports Palace of Kiev is promised to an electric night this Friday, April 19 when the full-strength Otamans will try to come back from their 1-4 away defeat to Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) semi-finals. Powered by superstar Vasyl Lomachenko and London 2012 bronze medallist Oleksandr Gvozdyk, the Ukrainians look confident enough to kick the defending Champions out of the competition. Action will get underway at Bantamweight (50-54kg) with Ukrainian National Championships silver medallist Mykola Butsenko going toe-to-toe with former pro Daniele Limone. Butsenko has already won twice this season and will be determined to extend his record in front of his fans. His footwork and capability to keep the right distance are his trademarks. Limone, who was defeated three times so far, will therefore face a complicated task. Two-times World and Olympic Champion, Ukrainian Lightweight (57... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:57:30 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wsb_semifinals_preview_ukraine_looks_to_finish_off_italy_kazakhstan_looks_to_come_back_against_mexico/13429786 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wsb_semifinals_preview_ukraine_looks_to_finish_off_italy_kazakhstan_looks_to_come_back_against_mexico/13429786 WSB semifinals preview: Ukraine looks to finish off Italy, Kazakhstan looks to come back against Mexico http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wsb_semifinals_preview_ukraine_looks_to_finish_off_italy_kazakhstan_looks_to_come_back_against_mexico/13429786 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Mongolia's light welterweight pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Olympic boxing tournament Wednesday night, stunning second-seeded Tom Stalker of Britain and his home crowd with a 23-22 victory. Britain immediately protested Stalker's narrow loss to Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg, but it was rejected. Yamaguchi Falcao of Brazil also upset top-seeded Cuban light heavyweight Julio La Cruz 18-15 in an eventful final day of quarterfinal bouts. The evening ended with Algerian light heavyweight Abdelhafid Benchabla's 19-17 loss to Ukraine's Oleksandr Gvozdyk, which left a small group of angry Algerian fans running up and down the stairs in the stands and shouting toward the ring. One fan hurled a desk lamp from the press tribune onto the arena floor. The lamp broke but didn't hit anyone, and no fans were detained by security. Algeria protested Benchabla's loss, which was affected by a last-minute holding penalty that resulted in the decisive margin of victory. But it was also rejected Wed, 08 Aug 2012 22:05:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/stalker_la_cruz_stunned_at_olympics/11410972 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/stalker_la_cruz_stunned_at_olympics/11410972 Stalker, La Cruz stunned at Olympics http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/stalker_la_cruz_stunned_at_olympics/11410972 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png In the final day of men's boxing Quarterfinal action, one division's 2008 gold medalist had to edge by controversially and is looking vulnerable at age 31 (Zou Shiming), one division saw an upset that aroused a lot of passion (Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg vs. Thomas Stalker) and in another division, the consensus class of the division was knocked off (Julio la Cruz Peraza). The day closed, naturally, with a bit of ugliness, thanks to the officiating in Oleksandr Gvozdyk-Abdelhafid Benchabla.(Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino celebrates his upset victory; photo via London 2012 Olympics website) Light Flyweight 49kg/108lbZou Shiming (China)-Birzhan Zhakypov (Kazakhstan) 13-10: Zhakypov had an argument for winning every round, including a dominant 3rd when Zou just ran and held and made virtually no clean contact. Instead, the 1st was tied (fine) the 2nd was 5-3 for Zou (not really) and the 3rd was 5-4 for Zou (definitely not). When the Olympics come back at boxing next time, one of t... Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:36:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/olympic_mens_boxing_quarterfinals_results_light_flyweights_light_welterweights_light/11410294 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/olympic_mens_boxing_quarterfinals_results_light_flyweights_light_welterweights_light/11410294 Olympic Men's Boxing Quarterfinals Results: Light Flyweights, Light Welterweights, Light ... http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/olympic_mens_boxing_quarterfinals_results_light_flyweights_light_welterweights_light/11410294 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Wednesday brings the last day of men's Olympic boxing when the loser goes home wearing a frowny face with no medal prize to show for his punching. The women, meanwhile, are already in the semifinals on Wednesday. Our friend Lisa Creech Bledsoe has predictions on what will go down with the ladies, so I'll focus on previewing the men below, with light flyweights, light welterweights and light heavyweights concluding the Quarterinals.(Julio la Cruz, left, eliminating Ihab Almatbouli, right)As always, you can watch online here or look for very delayed rebroadcasts, with a very unpredictable schedule despite what that links says, on CNBC. Light Flyweight 49kg/108lbZou Shiming (China) vs. Birzhan Zhakypov (Kazakhstan): Having narrowly overcome Yosbany Veitia Soto in the Round of 16, Shiming could encounter smoother sailing against Zhakypov, whose own narrow defeat of Mark Barriga has inspired the kind of hysterics in the Philippines more characteristic of what happens when som... Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:15:40 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/olympic_boxing_guide_and_schedule_the_quarterfinals_part_three/11402662 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/olympic_boxing_guide_and_schedule_the_quarterfinals_part_three/11402662 Olympic Boxing Guide And Schedule: The Quarterfinals Part Three http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/olympic_boxing_guide_and_schedule_the_quarterfinals_part_three/11402662 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The London Olympic boxing competition is moving forward with the semifinals and medal rounds on both the men's and women's side of the tournament. Before the action got underway at London, we presented a list of the betting odds for every division. Right here, you'll find an updated list with only the remaining fighters and contenders included. It's not too late to place a few bets and get in on the action for yourself. American women's Middleweight Claressa Shields is now the betting favorite to win her division! Find the complete list of odds and contenders right here. Sign up for Bovada and receive a 20% bonus and utilize all of these Olympic boxing betting odds and lines. Men's Olympic Boxing Semifinals Betting Odds Light Flyweight Zou Shiming (CHN) 2/3 David Ayrapetyan (RUS) 7/2 Aleksandar Aleksandrov (BUL) 12/1 Kaeo Pongprayoon (THA) 12/1 Patrick Barnes (IRL) 14/1 Devendro Singh (IND) 16/1 Ferhat PEhlivan (TUR) 18/1 Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ) 20/1 Flywe... Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:51:39 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/olympic_boxing_semifinals_betting_odds/11395747 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/olympic_boxing_semifinals_betting_odds/11395747 Olympic boxing semifinals betting odds http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/olympic_boxing_semifinals_betting_odds/11395747 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The evening session of the eighth day of competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games saw the last of the second round preliminaries for the Light Flyweight (46-49kg), Light Welterweight (64kg) and Light Heavyweight (81kg) categories take place once again at a packed ExCeL Arena. The first Light Flyweight (46-49kg) bout between Russian third seed David Ayrapetyan and the talented Jantony Ortiz Marcano of Puerto Rico proved a fantastic contest, with both evenly matched in the first round. 18-year-old southpaw Ortiz Marcano was making his height advantage count in the early exchanges with the 2008 Beijing Olympian Russian Team Captain having to really search for those clean shots. In the second, Ayrapetyan found his target several times, once with an overhead and once with a crisp left uppercut to go into the final round with a two point advantage. It was a thrilling finale with each boxer peppering the other with a huge number of shots, but it was the 28-year-old AIBA World Boxing C... Sun, 05 Aug 2012 00:37:24 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/thomas_stalker_highlights_olympic_boxing_results_from_day_8_afternoon_session/11379520 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/thomas_stalker_highlights_olympic_boxing_results_from_day_8_afternoon_session/11379520 Thomas Stalker highlights Olympic boxing results from Day 8 afternoon session http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/thomas_stalker_highlights_olympic_boxing_results_from_day_8_afternoon_session/11379520 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Season reaches its climax as WSB Team Final is upon us We have reached the pinnacle of the World Series of Boxing season on Wednesday 2 May as Dynamo Moscow and Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder come face-to-face for the title decider at the ExCeL London. Both teams have come through a grueling campaign and now one victory separates them from ultimate glory. A capacity crowd is expected to witness the clash of the year between the two toughest and most gifted teams in the competition. Five bouts, two teams, it is winner takes all. Who will claim the WSB Team Champions Trophy? All that hard work, all those hours in the gym, and now the moment of reckoning has arrived. The pride of Russia versus the glamour of Italy as ten fighters take to the ring for five sensational bouts during one evening of adrenaline fuelled action. This world class match will see the cream of the crop battling it out for supremacy on the biggest stage of all. The drama is set to unfold as first... Tue, 01 May 2012 19:52:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wsb_team_final_preview_finals_showdown_takes_place_on_wednesday/10698011 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wsb_team_final_preview_finals_showdown_takes_place_on_wednesday/10698011 WSB team final preview: Finals showdown takes place on Wednesday http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wsb_team_final_preview_finals_showdown_takes_place_on_wednesday/10698011 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png After this Friday's action, there were only two teams left in the competition, with the penultimate round of matches before the season finale deciding who would battle it out for the coveted WSB Team trophy. Dynamo Moscow hosted Astana Arlans, looking to overturn a slender 3:2 deficit, and Baku Fires faced with the impossible against the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder, having lost 5:0 in the first leg. Dynamo Moscow vs. Astana Arlans It was the fourth and final instalment in the clash of the Eastern titans saga as Moscow reserved a hot reception for Astana in a winner takes all match at the Basket-Hall in the heart of the Russian capital. Delicately poised from the first leg, this was anyone's match and with so much at stake, there were some nerves to settle. Dynamo Moscow got off to a flyer as Anvar Yusunov ensured the Russian outfit drew level in the tie as the 25-year-old southpaw demonstrated just why he won a bronze medal at the AIBA World Boxing Champ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:24:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/moscow_vs_milan_set_for_wsb_finals/10447325 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/moscow_vs_milan_set_for_wsb_finals/10447325 Moscow vs. Milan set for WSB finals http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/moscow_vs_milan_set_for_wsb_finals/10447325 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Friday sees the conclusion of the exciting World Series of Boxing semi-finals as Baku Fires do battle against Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder and Dynamo Moscow face Astana Arlans in the return legs. This promises to be two explosive fixtures with the teams going all out to claim a place for the Team Final on 2 May at the ExCeL in London. Baku Fires vs. Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder (aggregate score 0:5) No one had predicted such an emphatic scoreline for the Italian outfit when these two teams met in the first leg in Milan. It was an unforgettable night for the Thunder, but one surely to erase from memory for Baku, who had been so strong during the whole season but somehow seemed to come unstuck during this most crucial match. With the Azeri outfit having worked so hard to get to this point and with such an array of talent within their squad, many considered them favourites to go all the way. To readdress the balance from their first leg deficit, the home tea... Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:50:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/world_series_of_boxing_semifinals_wrap_up_this_weekend/10430218 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/world_series_of_boxing_semifinals_wrap_up_this_weekend/10430218 World Series of Boxing Semifinals wrap up this weekend http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/world_series_of_boxing_semifinals_wrap_up_this_weekend/10430218 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png With three of the quarter-finals delicately poised after the first leg ties, the action resumes this weekend with the return fixtures. The winners will advance to the last four of the World Series Boxing (WSB) knock-out stages. This Friday we have three quality matches on offer with Dynamo Moscow versus Leipzig Leopards, followed by Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder hosting Paris United and then Mexico City Guerreros do battle with Astana Arlans. Saturday the Venky's Mumbai Fighters travel to Azerbaijan to face Baku Fires in the last of match of this quarter-final line-up. Milan vs. Paris (aggregate score 2:3) Despite forfeiting the Bantamweight contest, Paris United took charge of the first leg at the Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin in the French capital, with an impressive performance that saw the big guns deliver when it mattered. Croatian duo Hrvoje Sep and Filip Hrgovic along with Irish Lightweight sensation John Joe Nevin did the business for Paris last Monday. ... Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:40:41 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wsb_semifinal_slots_to_be_decided_this_weekend/10263502 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wsb_semifinal_slots_to_be_decided_this_weekend/10263502 WSB semifinal slots to be decided this weekend http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wsb_semifinal_slots_to_be_decided_this_weekend/10263502 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png We have reached the ultimate round of fixtures in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) regular season. After this weekend, we will know which teams will face each other in the quarter-finals, as well as the boxers that will battle it out to become World Champions at the Individual Finals in May. With five matches on Friday evening, once again we bring you another night of action-packed boxing. A wounded Astana Arlans will seek a return to form when the Venky's Mumbai Fighters come to town. Before all eyes turn to the battle for top spot in Group A, Dynamo Moscow host the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder in what promises to be a momentous occasion. Paris United then faces the Leipzig Leopards in the clash that will define third place in Group B, as Bangkok Elephants deal with a hungry Los Angeles Matadors at the historic Pattaya Boxing World. The weekend concludes with the two in-form teams of Group B going head-to-head as Mexico City Guerreros lock horns with the ... Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:18:34 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/final_weekend_of_regular_season_world_series_of_boxing_action/9957943 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/final_weekend_of_regular_season_world_series_of_boxing_action/9957943 Final weekend of regular season World Series of Boxing action http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/final_weekend_of_regular_season_world_series_of_boxing_action/9957943 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png With four rounds of fixtures to go before the end of the regular World Series of Boxing (WSB) season, the race for the quarter-finals and Group positions is truly on. For some teams this is make or break time with so much at stake. With tense battles throughout this weekend and some great bouts to look forward to, the action will be electric. The Venky's Mumbai Fighters open proceedings on Friday with the visit of the confident Dynamo Moscow team as Paris United face a well-equipped and hungry Mexico City Guerreros. Saturday sees the Bangkok Elephants host their first home match against the highflying Astana Arlans with undefeated Baku Fires battling a resurgent Istanbul Bosphorus before Leipzig Leopards go in search of victory as the Beijing Dragons come to town. The Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder then travel to Hollywood to defend their perfect record this season against the Los Angeles Matadors in the final match of the weekend. Thrilling drama will unf... Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:57:42 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/make_or_break_time_in_world_series_of_boxing_action/9459203 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/make_or_break_time_in_world_series_of_boxing_action/9459203 Make or Break Time in World Series of Boxing Action http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/make_or_break_time_in_world_series_of_boxing_action/9459203 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Exceptional weekend of high-octane boxing as Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder and Baku Fires set early WSB pace. The Italian outfit plunder their way past Astana Arlans then Baku make it two successive away victories after overcoming Paris United. Leipzig Leopards remain top of Group B after a scintillating display versus Istanbul Bosphorus while Beijing Dragons record first success of the campaign by triumphing over Mexico City Guerreros. Then in the final match, Los Angeles Matadors emphatically dispatch of Dynamo Moscow. Match of the week With so much high quality boxing throughout the weekend, this was a difficult choice. However after strong consideration, the honour goes to the Baku Fires who after overcoming the defending champions Paris United 3:2, have ensured they remain undefeated and now share top spot in Group B. It was the away team's 21-year-old Azamat Murtuzalyev who won the decisive bout as the southpaw expertly overwhelmed the much taller Geor... Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:20:43 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/milano_thunder_crush_astana_arlans_in_world_series_of_boxing_action/8529340 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/milano_thunder_crush_astana_arlans_in_world_series_of_boxing_action/8529340 Milano Thunder Crush Astana Arlans in World Series of Boxing Action http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/milano_thunder_crush_astana_arlans_in_world_series_of_boxing_action/8529340 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png With Friday being the big curtain raiser for the second season of World Series of Boxing (WSB), the Mumbai Fighters and Leipzig Leopards will make their landmark debuts at home against tough opponents in the shape of the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder and the Mexico City Guerreros. This week we preview all matches as we focus on the immense pool of talent that will be on show over the next three days. Strong teams, excellent boxers and an atmosphere unrivalled, the season is sure to start with a bang. Here we give you a teaser of what is to come. The match of the week Sunday we look forward to enjoying the most anticipated tie of this opening week-end with the Los Angeles Matadors team hosting the Astana Arlans in a re-match of last year's semi-finals. A true grudge match in Group A, the Matadors will be looking to avenge the defeat they suffered last time around and please the crowds at the Music Box in the heart of Hollywood. The atmosphere is sure to be elect... Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:53:06 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/week_1_world_series_of_boxing_preview_mumbai_leipzig_teams_debut_more/7999522 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/week_1_world_series_of_boxing_preview_mumbai_leipzig_teams_debut_more/7999522 Week 1 World Series of Boxing Preview: Mumbai & Leipzig Teams Debut & More http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/week_1_world_series_of_boxing_preview_mumbai_leipzig_teams_debut_more/7999522 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png