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Indian boxing received a boost when it was confirmed as one of the franchise hosts for the new World Series to be launched by amateur boxing's ruling body in September next year.

The International Boxing Association is hoping to spice up the amateur game by find new audiences and new funding through the team-based World Boxing Series.

"India has been given a franchise for 10 years," Indian boxing federation secretary general P.K. Muralidharan Raja said.

"As to which Indian corporate group won, it will be announced later."

India, home to the multi-million pound IPL, is hoping to tap into the sport's popularity which was fired by middleweight Vijender Kumar winning bronze in Beijing last year, the country's first Olympic medal in the ring.

"It's good for our boxers that India has been chosen as one of four cities from the Asian region," Raja said. "They will get paid well.

"We are hoping to build on this and have our own city-based Indian Series. This will popularise the sport in India and also be a feeder series for the Indian franchise."

The WBS will comprise four city-based teams apiece from Europe, Asia and the Americas, with boxers still able to participate in the Olympics as well.

"Eight of the 12 teams have been decided," Raja said, without giving further details.

Boxers will five without vests or headgear, and in five weight categories - bantam, light, middle, light-heavy and heavy - over five three-minute rounds. Each team will have up to 20 boxers, including reserves, with at least three foreigners allowed. The franchises are expected to be in place by June.

Reuters