Mumbai Fighters get walkover from LA to gain WSB quarters

Mumbai Fighters gained a quarter-final berth in the World Series Boxing (WSB) after getting a walkover from Los Angeles Matadors in their last Group A league fight.

The fight was scheduled on Monday in the US but was cancelled due to a re-structure of the home team's management.

"Our fight against LA Matadors in The Music Box at Hollywood next Monday has got cancelled as their team management has been re-structured. We have been given a walkover and full three points and it has assured us of a quarter final berth," a Mumbai Fighters team source told PTI.

"We have now 14 points with a game in hand against Astana at Almaty in Kazakhstan on the 17th while the Matadors have only 10 with a game in hand against Bangkok Elephants. So you can say we are through to the quarters," said the source.

A victory over another team in the best-of-five bout fights gains the winners three points.

"As the fourth-best team (out of six) in Group A we will meet the team that tops Group B (Baku Fires of Azerbaijan) in the quarter finals," the source added.

Formidable Baku Fires have won 27 points by winning all their nine bouts in the six-team Group B. In distant second place with 16 points are Mexico City Guereros.

The quarter-finals would also be a home and away affair with Mumbai taking on Baku away from home on March 2/3 and the return leg being hosted by the Indian franchise on March 9/10.

The semi-finals are slated for March 23-24 and 30-31 and the final is scheduled on April 27 and 28.