MILAN, Oct 21 Amateur boxing has gone glamorous in a bid to steal the limelight from the struggling professional version of the sport with a new World Series team event which supporters hope will propel the best performers to the top.

Clemente Russo, Italy's 2008 Olympic heavyweight silver medallist, is the biggest name in the Milano Thunder franchise which will battle it out with teams such as the Beijing Dragons and the Miami Gallos.

The worldwide tournament, which starts on Nov. 19 and runs until the finals in Macau in May next year, blurs the lines between amateur and professional boxing. Fighters will be paid and headguards have been dropped.

With professional boxing struggling for media exposure given the dominance of the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Vladimir, and lack of drama, Russo believes the World Series could be the next big thing.—Reuters