TBL Combine: 100+ Fighters Battle for Team Boxing League Spots
Team Boxing League hosts first-ever televised open boxing combine at Bally's Atlantic City, testing over 100 fighters across nine stations for Season 4 spots.
TBL Combine: 100+ Fighters Battle for Team Boxing League Spots
Over 100 fighters have registered for the Team Boxing League's first-ever televised open boxing combine at Bally's Atlantic City, where athletes will be tested across nine different stations to earn spots on TBL's 12 teams for Season 4.
The three-day event, running January 16-18, 2026, represents a revolutionary shift in boxing talent development. Unlike traditional gym-based tryouts, TBL's combine offers an "America's Got Talent" style open casting call that has already drawn lines around the block in previous tryouts, according to CEO Kevin Cassidy.
"The last two years, when we did different tryouts in different cities, we would get a line around the block from the gym that we would do tryouts in," Cassidy told The Inquirer. "So, we decided we would do kind of America's Got Talent style, open casting call."
The TikTok of Boxing
TBL's format is described as "the TikTok of boxing" - a faster-paced product where fighters have only 30 seconds to figure out opponents before going all out. Unlike traditional boxing where fighters have multiple rounds to feel out opponents, TBL competitors train to maximize their output in single rounds.
"It's a little bit different in team boxing. They train to go all out in one round. So, they could either fight one or two rounds in an event. That's the most," Cassidy explained. "This, you have 30 seconds to figure out the other fighter and then you have to go all out."
Testing Across Nine Stations
The combine will evaluate fighters through nine different testing stations, including rope drills, speed bags, and technology developed by Bally's to measure hand speed and punching power. Each bout features 24 three-minute rounds with 10-9 scoring for round winners and 10-8 for knockdowns.
TBL Season 4 begins mid-March 2026 and runs through September 2026, featuring 56 events across the country. The league's team-based ownership model includes 12 teams nationwide, including the Philadelphia Smoke.
Weight Classes and Requirements
Male fighters compete in nine weight classes: 126lbs, 135lbs, 147lbs, 154lbs, 160lbs, 168lbs, 175lbs, 199lbs, and 205lbs+. Female competitors have three weight classes: 118lbs, 126lbs, and 140lbs. All athletes must be within 10lbs of their desired weight class.
Why It Matters
The TBL combine represents a democratization of boxing talent scouting, moving away from closed-door gym tryouts to a televised, accessible format that could discover the next generation of boxing stars. With over 100 fighters already registered and major media attention, TBL is positioning itself as the future of boxing talent development.
What to Watch
As the combine unfolds January 16-18, 2026, at Bally's Atlantic City, scouts and fans will be watching for standout performers who could earn spots on TBL's 12 teams. The league's unique format and team-based structure could reshape how boxing talent is developed and presented to audiences accustomed to quick, engaging content.
The road to TBL Season 4 starts at Bally's, where the next generation of boxing stars will be discovered through this revolutionary combine format that's being called "the TikTok of boxing."