Cuba Domadores, the 2014 and 2016 champions, were hoping a strong away performance could set them up for a fifth consecutive appearance in the finals of the franchise event.

Jorge Grinan looked to give the Domadores an ideal start when he met the French Fighting Roosters overseas boxer Gabriel Escobar Mascuñano in the under 52 kilogram flyweight bout.

The Cuban fighter suffered defeat as Mascuñano earned a unanimous points victory.

Sofiane Oumiha represented the hosts in the 60kg lightweight event at Salle Wagram, where he faced Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist.

Victory was earned by Oumiha, who edged Alvarez after a closely fought encounter.

Action continued with the 69kg welterweight division, which saw France’s Patrick Momene take on Roniel Iglesias.

Iglesias, London 2012 Olympic champion in the light welterweight division, prevailed via a unanimous points verdict.

The penultimate fight of the evening saw home favourite Gaetan Ntambwe meet the Domadores’ Julio La Cruz in the 81kg light heavyweight event.

La Cruz emerged as the winner, with the judges awarding him a points win in each round.

The first leg concluded with an over 91kg super heavyweight showdown between the Roosters’ Mihai Nistor and Cuban rival Jose Larduet.

A strong performance saw Larduet secure victory on points.

The Domadores will seek to defend their advantage when the two teams meet again next Friday (May 25).

The second leg of the semi-final will take place at the Coliseo Ciudad Deportiva in Havana.

Defending champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan will hope to hold off the British Lionhearts the following day.

Yesterday, the Kazakh team earned a 3-2 victory in their away match in Sheffield.