All 12 teams for the seventh edition of the event had already been placed into regional groups, with the draw confirming their schedule for home and away fixtures.

The Cubans, who defeated the British Lionhearts in last year's final, are in the Americas section alongside Venezuela.

Argentina Condors will host Mexico Guerreros in the other opening fixture in the group.

In the European section, Morocco Atlas Lions will entertain France Boxing Team in a week one clash with the Lionhearts travelling to Italia Thunder.

The Asia section will see opening home fixtures for the Russian Boxing Team and China Dragons, who will face off against Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Tigers respectively.

All of the opening bouts will take place in February, with the WSB preceded by the draft pick on December 21.

Five fights are scheduled at each contest, with boxers competing across five rounds.

The top two teams from each group and the two strongest third-placed sides will qualify for the play-offs, which assume the format of four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the grand final in June.

All ten weight categories were also drawn today to determine which weight will box in a tie-break in the play-offs.

Super-heavyweight was selected for the quarter-finals, with flyweight picked for the semi-finals and final.

Today's draw was made by William Louis-Marie, the acting executive director of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), and Pat McCormack, a light welterweight with last year’s runners up the Lionhearts.