BRITISH Lionhearts’ five-man team to take on the France Fighting Roosters in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) at the Newport Centre this Saturday has been revealed.

The mouth-watering showdown will decide which team wins the WSB’s European group and gives the Lionhearts a chance to avenge their narrow 3-2 defeat by the French in the opening match of the season.

The British trio of flyweight Will Cawley, welterweight Carl Fail and super-heavyweight Solomon Dacres are joined by two overseas selections in lightweight Dzmitry Asanau, from Belarus, and Irish light-heavyweight Joe Ward.

Cawley and Dacres both competed for the Lionhearts last season when they defeated the Roosters in the team’s home match at York Hall, a win that saw the hosts progress to the semi-finals.

For Fail, the clash in Newport this weekend represents his debut for the Lionhearts, who are gearing up for their final home fixture of the campaign.

Ward starred in the Lionhearts’ 5-0 win over the Croatian Knights in the team’s first home fixture of the season in Gateshead, while Asanau recently competed for the British side in Italy.

The French team is expected to include Olympic silver medallist lightweight Sofiane Oumiha and double European flyweight champion Daniel Asenov.

“It’ll be a tough match between the two top-placed teams to see who wins the European group and qualifies for the next stage of the tournament,” said Lionhearts head coach and GB Boxing performance director Rob McCracken.

“The British Lionhearts are fielding a strong team, despite the Commonwealth Games currently being under way in Australia.

“With the boxers who would normally compete in the World Series of Boxing unable to feature in the team, it’s an opportunity for the other boxers to step up and show what they can do.

“The team will be in good spirits following their recent away victory in Croatia. We are up against a good team, it will be a great night of boxing for the fans.”

Wins for Niall Farrell, Dalton Smith, Radoslav Pantaleev and middleweight Jordan Reynolds, on his WSB debut, steered the Lionhearts to victory in Zagreb last Friday.

A defeat for overseas selection Florin Laurentiu Balteanu, who lost to Nodari Darbaidze in the opening bout, gave the Lionheart’s fuel to push on in the contest, ending the evening with a comfortable 4-1 success.

WSB is a global team boxing competition contested by the world’s leading amateur boxers.

It bridges the gap between Olympic and professional boxing and fighters compete without vests or headguards over five three-minute rounds.

WSB matches are contested over five bouts and the team that wins three or more is the winner.

Tickets for the match in Newport, priced £16.50 (including booking fee) are on sale at gbboxing.org.uk/tickets.

More details on the British Lionhearts are available at gbboxing.org.uk/world-series-boxing and by following the team on twitter at @Brit_Lionhearts.