It will offer an opportunity for the Astana Arlans, eliminated in the semi-finals of this year's WSB after winning the season before, to prove they are capable of reclaiming their crown.

In turn, the Cuban team will be keen to showcase they remain the side to beat, following Arisnoydis Despaigne's victory over Yauheni Ramashkevich of the Baku Fires in a sudden-death welterweight bout in the Azerbaijani capital in June to claim the WSB crown.

"I would like to thank the Kazakhstan Astana Arlans for organizing this incredible match which will delight all boxing fans," said International Boxing Association (AIBA) President, C K Wu.

"We are very happy that for the first time, two previous WSB Champions will clash in an exhibition match.

"The event will be at the same time a celebration of the WSB, a precursor to the eagerly anticipated start of Season V and a sample of sportsmanship that AIBA promotes in WSB."

The Cuba Domadores celebrate their triumph in the last season of the World Series of Boxing ©WSB



The Domadores' win in Season IV had extra significance for Wu, who had travelled to Havana last year to persuade the Government to end its half-a-century ban on professional boxing and enter the WSB.

The announcement of the exhibition bout shows that this new Cuban approach has clearly not been changed, something that is benefitting the overall standard of the sport. 

"A match between these two titans of the WSB is greatly welcomed by all involved," said AIBA chief executive Karim Bouzidi.

"We are extremely proud of the two sides that have had the initiative to arrange such a momentous occasion.

"I am sure that the match will encapsulate the very ethos of the WSB and show that respect and friendship between competitors and their desire to provide a spectacle of their masterful boxing skills is what is paramount to all involved in our fantastic competition."

Season V of the WSB will begin on a yet to be confirmed date later this year, with 16 teams, including four new franchises set to compete, split into two groups of eight. 

Cuba Domadores have already been drawn in Group A, while the Astana Arlans will be a leading contender in Group B. 

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