Hasanboy Dusmatov led the Uzbek Tigers to a 3-2 win over defending champions Cuba Domadores in the first leg of their quarter-final ©Getty Images

The second legs of this year's World Series of Boxing quarter-finals are set to take place this weekend with all four matches interestingly poised at 3-2.

Defending champions Cuba Domadores face a battle to retain their title after suffering a 3-2 defeat in their quarter-final first leg against the Uzbek Tigers in Samarkand last week.

The Tigers took advantage of hosting the first leg as Rio 2016 champion Hasanboy Dusmatov produced a fine display to beat 2016 world champion Joahnys Argilagos in the first contest at light flyweight.

Murodjon Akhmadaliev doubled the Tigers' advantage at bantamweight before Andy Cruz reduced the deficit for the defending champions in the light-welterweight bout.

A unanimous points verdict in favour of Israil Madrimov, following his middleweight contest with Arlen Lopez, saw the Tigers' lead restored but a win for Cuba in the heavyweight contest offered the country a lifeline.

The second leg is due to take place at Coliseo Ciudad Deportiva in Havana tomorrow (May 19).

Italia Thunder head into the second leg of their quarter-final with a 3-2 lead over the Colombia Heroicos, after a close contest in Rome last week.

With the Colombians trailing 3-1, heavyweight Julio Deivis claimed a unanimous win over Amin Ettesami to give some hope when action begins at the Coliseo Cubierto Ramón Elías López in Palmira tomorrow.

Conor Loftus, right, of the British Lionhearts defeated Hassan Amzile, left, of the France Fighting Roosters last week ©Getty Images
Conor Loftus, right, of the British Lionhearts defeated Hassan Amzile, left, of the France Fighting Roosters last week ©Getty Images

Two-time champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan will begin this weekend's contest with Russia's Patriot Boxing Team in front, after claiming a 3-2 away win in Kemerovo last week.

Bantamweight Ilyas Suleimenov, light welterweight Dilmurat Mizhitov and middleweight Saparbay Aidarov all recorded first leg victories for the visitors.

The second leg is scheduled to take place at the Boxing Centre Sapiyev in Karaganda City on Saturday (May 20).

In the fourth and final quarter-final, the British Lionhearts will be hoping to overturn a 3-2 deficit on home soil on Saturday after the France Fighting Roosters claimed a narrow success at the Salle Wagram in Paris in the first meeting between the two sides.

Victories for Samuel Kistohurry, Samuel Carmona Heredia and Rachid Achoui gave the Roosters the victory on the night but David Kieran Nyika and Conor Loftus prevailed for the Lionhearts to put them within touching distance.

The second leg is due to take place at York Hall in London.