The cycles will see eight boxers compete in two rounds of preliminary matches in their weight category for the right to challenge their divisions' defending champion in a title match, with the majority of title fights set to take place in the champions' home country.

However the AIBA have launched a bidding process to select host cities for the two cycles that are set to take place in 2015.

The first cycle will begin from May 29 to 30 and conclude on September 18 to 19, while the second cycle is scheduled to get underway from October 30 to 31, before concluding on January 29 to 30 in 2016.

The second round matches of cycle one, due to be held from July 10 to 11 and July 17 to 18, will prove to be vital for the boxers as it acts as the Rio 2016 qualifier, in addition to seeing them qualify for a title match.

Two quota places are available in each weight category, with both the champion and the challenger guaranteed a spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with 20 places up for grabs across all weight divisions.

Champions and challengers at the cycle one title fights will secure qualification for Rio 2016 ©AIBA





Russian trio Artem Harutyunyana, Mikhail Aloian and Aleksei Egorov were among the 10 inaugural title holders, along with Turkish duo Onur Sipal and Adem Kilicci.

China's Bin LV, France's Khedafri Djelkhir, Kazakhstan's Berik Abdrakhmanov, Iran's Ehsan Rouzbahani and Germany's Erik Pfeifer earned the title in their respective divisions.

The new competition format was introduced in October 2014 to give elite boxers the opportunity to compete professionally while remaining eligible for the Olympics, in which boxers have always retained amateur status.

APB boxers will also be allowed to compete at any Open Boxing competition, which are related to Olympic qualification.

They can also participate at their continental games, including the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada and the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.

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