Heavyweight Lawrence Okolie secured the deciding victory for the British Lionhearts in their 3-2 win over the USA Knockouts ©WSB

The British Lionhearts got their World Series of Boxing (WSB) Series VI campaign off to the best possible start as they claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory over the USA Knockouts in their Group B opener at the Miccosukee Sports & Entertainment Dome in Miami.

In what proved to be a topsy-turvy affair which went down to the final bout, the visitors twice went in front but were pegged back by a stubborn American outfit before WSB debutant Lawrence Okolie edged his heavyweight bout with Cam Awesome to give the Lionhearts a superb triumph.

The away team started well and took a 1-0 lead thanks to European Confederation Championship silver medallist Harvey Horn, who secured a unanimous success over Nico Hernandez in their light flyweight match-up to record his maiden WSB win.

The USA Knockouts, who finished fifth in Group B in Series V, quickly levelled the contest as Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games champion Shakur Stevenson produced a classy display to beat Peter McGrail in their bantamweight clash.

Stevenson, winner of the gold medal in Nanjing two years ago in the flyweight division, was given the victory on all three judges’ scorecards after he landed a series of uppercuts and bruising hook shots which proved too much for McGrail to handle.

Youth Olympic champion Shakur Stevenson's victory over Peter McGrail proved to be in vein as the USA Knockouts fell to a 3-2 defeat to the British Lionhearts ©WSB
Youth Olympic champion Shakur Stevenson's victory over Peter McGrail proved to be in vein as the USA Knockouts fell to a 3-2 defeat to the British Lionhearts ©WSB

The Lionhearts, keen to better their performance during Series V, where they could only muster seventh in Group A, went back in front when light welterweight Pat McCormack survived an early onslaught from Gary Russell to seal a unanimous win.

The American appeared to be the more composed of the two boxers in the early rounds before McCormack, also making his WSB debut, fought his way back into the contest and clinched a vital success for his side.

Testament to the nature of the first Group B tie in this year’s WSB, the Knockouts responded as Troy Williamson won his middleweight bout with Charles Conwell to set up a thrilling decider.

Okolie managed to control his match against Awesome, who had dropped down from the super heavyweight division, though the American kept himself in the contest and suffered defeat by the narrowest of margins.

All three judges scored the fight 48-47 in favour of the Lionhearts to ensure they left Miami with a battling triumph.

The Lionhearts are due next to take on the Morocco Atlas Lions on February 5 in Casablanca, while the Knockouts return to the ring on the same day against the Mexico Guerreros in Coconut Creek, Florida.