WELSH amateur stars Andrew Selby and Joe Cordina were both beaten in their first fights in the new World Series of Boxing season, writes Andrew Penman.

The British Lionhearts lost 3-2 to the Ukraine Otamans at the Acco International Exhibition Center in Kiev.

The match got off to a difficult start for the Lionhearts as Selby tasted defeat for the first time in WSB.

The referee stopped the flyweight contest after four rounds due to an injury to the Welshman’s left eye, which had been caught by a number of solid shots from Azat Usenaliev of the Otamans.

He was followed into the ring by his fellow Welshman, Cordina, who trains at St Joseph’s gym in Newport.

The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist got stronger as the lightweight contest went on but he was unable to convince the judges who awarded the bout to his Ukranian opponent Oleg Prudkyi.

There was a victory for the Lionhearts’ WSB debutant Ekow Essuman at welterweight and a knockout win for Joe Joyce at super-heavyweight.

But the light heavyweight contest saw the experienced Ukranian Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeat the Lionhearts’ Aston Brown by TKO in round four to ensure the Otamans won the fixture.

The Lionhearts beat the China Dragons 3-2 in London in their first match but Ashley Williams, the only Welsh fighter in action, was beaten by Junjun He at light-flyweight.

London 2012 silver medal winner Fred Evans, who previously trained at St Joseph’s gym in Newport, is fighting for the Italia Thunder team this year.

He was beaten by Brian Ceballo at welterweight as the Italians lost 3-2 to the USA Knockouts in Miami on Saturday.

Next-up for the Lionhearts is another away fixture against the Morocco Atlas Lions in Casablanca on Friday night when Williams will again be in action.

The Lionhearts currently sit third in Group A, while the Morocco Atlas Lions are yet to get off-the-mark following a 4-1 defeat by the Mexico Guerreros in Mexico City and a 5-0 loss to the Cuba Domodores in Havana.

The action starts at 9pm on Friday night and can be watched online at http://www.aibaboxingtv.com/.

More details on the Lionhearts and WSB are available at worldseriesboxing.com and by following the team on twitter at @Brit_Lionhearts.