By Duncan Mackay at the Kempinski Hotel Badamdar in Baku

Home side Baku Fires will take on Cuba Domadores in the final of the World Series of Boxing ©WSBSeason IV of the World Series of Boxing (WSB), widely regarded as the most exciting so far, will reach its conclusion when home side Azerbaijan Baku Fires meet Cuba Domadores in a two-legged, ten bout event encompassing two days here tomorrow and Saturday (June 7).


Baku Fires have been an integral part of WSB since its debut season in 2010-2011, and have reached their first final thanks to their phenomenal home record this season, winning six of their seven matches and amassing a 28-7 score in Azerbaijan.

Their lone home defeat was against Cuba Domadores, who in their debut season are unbeaten in all but one match, with an incredible 57-13 record in all contests.

Azerbaijan Baku Fires have already knocked out the defending WSB champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan in the semi-finals, while Cuba disposed of a very strong Russian team in their semi-final contest.

It is a delicately poised contest which will start at the Sarhadchi Olympic Sport Complex with a bantamweight contest between Baku's Magomed Gurbanov, winner of his last two home fights, and Cuba's Norlan Yera, who won a silver medal here at the International Boxing Association World Youth Championships in 2010. 

Baku Fires and Cuba Domadores will be aiming for World Series of Boxing glory at the Sarhadchi Olympic Sport Complex ©WSBBaku Fires and Cuba Domadores will be aiming for World Series of Boxing glory at the Sarhadchi Olympic Sport Complex ©WSB

Baku Fires managing director Rizvan Genzhiyev has set his sights high for this final. 

"There is only one result which satisfies me - 5-0," he said. 

Cuba's head coach of Cuban team Rolando Acebal, meanwhile, is backing his team's phenomenal talent to overcome their lack of experience. 

"It was a real pleasure to follow every single match of both finalists in Season IV, and I find it rather symbolic that these finals will see a debuting team, and a veteran team of our competition compete to become winners," said Karim Bouzidi, chief executive of the WSB. 

"This is not to mention that this Season IV has been the most unpredictable, the most intense and the most competitive season ever."

The event, switched from Ukraine earlier this month, will also give the Azerbaijan capital another opportunity to showcase itself as it prepares to host next year's inaugural European Games.