AIBA President: "WSB quarter-finals - perfect symbol of peace through sport"

Lausanne, Switzerland, March 31, 2014 - The International Boxing Association (AIBA) President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, who will be attending the World Series of Boxing (WSB) Russian Boxing Team vs. Ukraine Otamans quarter-final matches in Moscow on March 31 and in Donetsk on April 4, said today "I am convinced that we are about to witness some of the most amazing matches in WSB history".

"Both teams are not only based in major boxing nations, but they also are very strong WSB Franchises", underlined Dr Wu.

According to the AIBA President, even though the Otamans are one of the newest teams in the League, they still managed to box their way to the most closely fought WSB Finals ever seen last season, and came close to finishing on top of Group A, a couple of weeks ago until they were pipped to the post at the last minute by the Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder.

In the meantime, Russia has had a team in the WSB since the very first season in 2010, and has gone from strength to strength since then, even beating the mighty Cuba Domadores in their last match.

"AIBA, as a part of the greater Olympic Family, strongly believes in and promotes through its competitions the Olympic values - fair-play, excellence and friendship. Therefore I want to express my gratitude to both Franchises for having organized this match and the return leg, in line with the main principles of Olympism, not to mention, the overall professional behaviour in which they approached the preparation process".

"On April 6, we will be celebrating the very first International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. I strongly believe that sport can drive peace around the world. And I know that this WSB quarter-final will be the perfect symbol of that".

The President of the Russian Boxing Team and WSB Commission Vice Chairman, Mr Maxim Shabarin said "As the Russian Boxing Team has to face the Ukrainian Team in the quarter-finals and our opponents have lined-up their strongest boxers, our team has been training very hard to be in their best shape for this match".

The President of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation and of the Ukraine Otamans Franchise, Mr. Volodymyr Prodyvus, also flew to Moscow to support his team for the match. "First of all I would like to congratulate the Ukrainian and the Russian Teams for qualifying to the WSB Season IV quarter-finals. We will soon witness an encounter in the ring between these two boxing super powers. The Franchises have great sporting traditions and both teams can be truly considered to be among the main challengers to win the WSB Finals this season. I am convinced that the upcoming match between the Ukraine Otamans and the Russian Boxing Team will play an important role not just in a sporting sense, but it will also help to unite the fans from Ukraine and Russia around a common interest. I expect a number of bright and uncompromising fights from this match. We respect our opponents, we are focused on victory and we will do our best to realize our goal which is to advance to the next stage of the competition".

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