Italia Thunder claimed a 3-2 victory over the Croatian Knights as the eighth World Series of Boxing season begun today ©WSB/Twitter

Italia Thunder claimed a 3-2 victory over the Croatian Knights as the eighth World Series of Boxing (WSB) season began today.

Middleweight Vincenzo Lizzi beat Aleksa Markovic 2-1 on points to give Thunder an unassailable 3-1 lead in the Group B clash at the Pala Mandela venue in Florence.

Light flyweight Federico Serra and light welterweight Paolo Di Lernia had earlier won their respective bouts with the former defeating Yauheni Karmilchyk 3-0 on points and the latter overcoming Ivan Njegac courtesy of a first-round knock-out.

These successes came either side of bantamweight Filip Poturovic's 2-1 win over Francesco Grandelli, putting the Knights, who were making their WSB debut, on the board. 

The Knights added to their tally in the last bout of the contest as Toni Filipi beat Clemente "Tatanka" Russo 3-0 at heavyweight.

In today's second Group B encounter, the France Fighting Roosters registered a 3-2 success over the British Lionhearts at the Salle Wagram in Paris.

Light flyweight Samuel Carmona Heredia gave Roosters the lead by defeating Galal Yafai 3-0 and the advantage was doubled when bantamweight Samuel Kistohurry overcame Peter McGrail 2-0. 

The Lionhearts then fought back with light welterweight Luke McCormack halving the deficit by virtue of a 3-0 win at the expense of Massi Tachour.

But Nizar Trimech went onto to settle the tie in the Roosters' favour thanks to 3-0 victory over Eumir Felix Delos Santos Marcial at middleweight.

The final bout of the contest saw heavyweight David Kieran Nyika secure a consolation point for the Lionhearts, beating Kristiyan Stefanov Dimitrov 3-0. 

Cuba Domadores beat Colombia Heroicos 5-0 in Group A ©WSB
Cuba Domadores beat Colombia Heroicos 5-0 in Group A ©WSB

Group A competition also begun today with two-time WSB champions Cuba Domadores thrashing Colombia Heroicos 5-0 at the Coliseo Ciudad Deportiva in Havana.

Unanimous points wins for light flyweight Damian Arce Duarte, bantamweight Robeisy Ramirez and light welterweight Andy Cruz Gomez secured victory for the Domadores at the earliest opportunity.

They beat Julian Andres Velasquez Mendez, Jhon Martinez and Andres Mauricio Garcia Garcia respectively.

Middleweight Arlen Lopez then got the better of Juan Diego Ortiz before heavyweight Erislandy Savon sealed the whitewash by defeating Julio Cesar Calimeño Arroyo. 

WSB action is due to resume on February 9, when Cuba Domadores face Uzbek Tigers in Havana.