WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

Posted on | November 6, 2008 | No Comments

November 4, 2008 – Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

The World Boxing Council completed the second day of its 46th annual convention in Chengdu on Tuesday.

At yesterday’s general assembly meeting, WBC President Dr. José Sulaimán expressed his thoughts to the WBC Board of Governors regarding today’s election of WBC officers. He said, “I am a firm believer that everything in life turns around cycles. A cycle that begins today must end at some specific time someday. Only those that retire at the precise time of the end of their cycle are the ones that can live with pride for the rest of their lives by having left a mark of their passing through life for future generations, while others that stubbornly have intended to go over that end of their cycle have ended their lives with repulsion and rejection of their generation, tarnishing their image, which had been in the past an example to follow.

“I do not want to go over the end of my cycle, as I want to retire at the right time to feel that I have left many friends behind who think of me as a good man who did his best in the best way that he could. I do not and cannot know if I have come to the end of my cycle, so I will be leaving in your hands the resolution for my near future with the WBC, with my sincere begging to sincerely decide what is best for the organization, which I will continue to serve with the most profound feeling of love and loyalty regardless or my position as the WBC must continue growing with untouchable integrity for the betterment of the sport the we love, regardless of who is, and who will come in the future as its leader.

“The last five years have been the most heart suffering of my life, as a court of law blasted us with the most unfair and biased ruling, just as a court of backruptcy did; the kidnapping of my very close and dearest niece; the medical finding of a deadly disease that, thank God, I have overcome; the passing away of two of the closest and dearest friends of my life, and the financial crisis of the WBC for some of the mentioned reasons. But at the same time, I found that the unanimous solidarity of all of you, my boxing friends, as well as those who have come close to give me warmth and concern, all who have propelled me to continue with more determination and perserverance than ever, to be worthy of the leadership that you have entrusted me in the past.”

Today, officers of each of the 10 Continental Federations voiced their unanimous support for another four-year term for Dr. Sulaiman. General Kovid Bhakdibhumi of Thailand, president of the Asian Boxing Council, made the nomination and Dr. Sulaiman was re-elected by acclamation.

Six WBC vice presidents were reelected unanimously: General Bhakdibhumi, Charles Giles of Great Britain, Houcine Houchi of Tunisia, Edmund Lipinski of Russia, Chul Kee Kim of Korea, and Roy Van Putten of Aruba. Two WBC vice president positions were vacant, and Rex Walker of the United States and Bob Logist of Belgium were unanimously elected. Eric Buhain of the Philippines was elected vice president at large.

Other WBC officers who were reelected were treasurer Juan Sanchez of the United States; secretary general Gabriel Penagaricano of Puerto Rico; legal counselor Robert Lenhardt of the United States; international secretaries Mauro Betti of Italy, Frank Quill of Australia, Willibald Pallatin of Austria, Antonio Martin Galan of Spain, and Edward Thangarajah of Thailand; general counselor at large Avel Gonzalez of the United States; promoters representative Salvatore Cherchi of Italy; and managers representative Don Majeski of the United States.

The 47th annual WBC convention in 2009 will be held in Jeju, Korea. Mexico was approved as the site of the convention in 2010, with the city to be determined. Mexico City, Puebla, and Cancun are possibilities.

Two pilot programs that have been used with success in several countries were approved as formal WBC rules: video replay, in certain instances during the minute rest period following a round, and open scoring, with the scores announced after the fourth and eighth rounds. In WBC female fights, the open scoring rule will be used after the third and sixth rounds in eight-round regional title fights, and after the fourth and seventh rounds in 10-round world championship fights.

WBC super lightweight world champion Timothy Bradley Jr. of the United States attended Tuesday’s general assembly meeting. WBC heavyweight world champion Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine, former WBC featherweight and super featherweight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico, WBC interim strawweight world champion Juan Palacios of Nicaragua, and WBC number one-ranked super lightweight contender Devon Alexander of the United States attended the opening ceremonies on Monday.

George Foreman and Thomas Hearns were elected to the WBC Hall of Fame. Joey Giardello was elected posthumously.

Promoters who have already arrived in Chengdu include Don King, Gary Shaw, Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions, Dino Duva, Brad Jacobs of Star Boxing, Alex Camponova of Thompson Promotions, Sampson Lewcowicz, and Sean Gibbons of Sycuan Promotions from the United States; Salvatore Cherchi of Italy; Akihiko Honda of Japan; Frank Maloney of England; Dietmar Poszwa of Universum and Ahmet Oner of Arena-Box Promotions from Germany; Alexandra Croft of GYM from Canada; Andrew Wasilewski of Poland; Liu Gang of China; Bebot Elorde of the Philippines; Mr. Virat, Mr. Singwancha, Mr. Toomkit, and Mr. Nakonluang of Thailand; Chris Ganesco of Gankor Promotions of Romania; Harry Gorian of Croatia; and Mr. Bustos of Argentina.

The WBC annual awards were presented to:
Mr. Qin Wenlin: Annual Award of Commendation (convention host)
Douglas and Edith Belton: Boxing Couple of the Year
Ludo Saenz: Broadcasting Award
Japan Boxing Commission: Commission of the Year
Tsuyoshi Yasukochi: Commissioner of the Year
Ed Pearson: Committee Chairman of the Year
Claude Jackson: Committee Member of the Year
HBO: Communications Lifetime Achievement Award
Alberto Guerra: Confederation Officer of the Year
European Boxing Union: Confederation of the Year
General Kovid Bhakdibhumi: Confederation President of the Year
Jyoji Ohtsuki, M.D.:Dr. Gerald Finerman Scientific Award
Frank Quill: Humanitarian Award
Eric Buhain: In Honor and Gratitude to a Great Leader
Madame Li Yujin: Lady of the Year
Dr. Pedro Sequeira: Lifetime Achievement Award
Ing. Carlos Slim Helu: Man of the Year
Mauro Betti: Mister WBC
Frank Quill: Most Valuable Player
Jill Diamond, Carlos Rodriguez: Special Acheivement Award
Houcine Houchi: Loyalty and Honor Award
Edward Thangarajah: Marvin Kohn Good Fellow Award
Luis Escalona, Joe Dwyer, Joe Koizumi, David Walker: Work Horse Award
Enza Jacoponi: WBC Officer of the Year
Tom Kaczmarek, Ken Morita: Ray Hawkins Judge of the Year
Kenny Bayless, Massimo Barrovecchio: Chuck Hassett Referee of the Year

WBC heavyweight world champion Vitali Klitschko attended the opening day ceremonies on Monday and addressed the assembly. He said, “Dear ladies and gentlemen, dear representatives of government of China, dear Governors, dear friends, and of course, dear Don José Sulaimán, I am very happy to be here in China, the second time of this year after Olympic Games, where China showed the great performance of their boxers just a couple of months ago. I’m sure that China has great potential for professional boxers, and I’m sure that in the next couple of years we’ll announce new professional world champions from China.

“I want to explain to you that I stand on this stage not as sportsman – I stand on this stage the same time as promoter. I want to explain to you some interesting story, a very short story, I take a couple of minutes of your time. But this story is very important.

“I remember the words of José Sulaimán, who told many times his main point in boxing is not the promoters, not managers, the main person in boxing is the sportsman, and we have to never forget that. The story is not secret – professional boxing is mixed between sport and business. And it’s very important to never forget the interest of sportsmen.

“Right now, I’ll be explaining to you as a sportsman some short story. Many know I lose my title couple of years ago. Not in the fight – I take an injury, and I don’t want to hold up the heavyweight division. I give my title back to WBC and made the way free for other boxers. And I’m very appreciate for José Sulaimán, who gave me the status, ‘Emeritus Champion,’ because I don’t lose my title. This was time of injuries, but I recover. I recover, and one and a half years ago I talk to president of WBC to give me chance to use my title to fight directly for world championship.

“I’m very appreciate that the WBC agreed and gave me the chance. I want to make one more fight in preparation period, to be in good shape – Jameel McCline. Just 10 days before the fight, I take an injury – slip of the disk and immediately I need surgery.

“I understand this business. I understand it’s many people skeptical and make the pressure – ‘The guy want to come and make the money, he’s old, have a lot of injuries.’ But I am very appreciate Don Jose. You tell, ‘I give my word and I keep my word.’

“I need one more year for recovering after surgery and I take a chance to fight against strongest one, heavyweight Samuel Peter. He have great record, big puncher. I told to WBC, ‘I am ready to fight against everyone.’ I know my skills and I take a chance to fight. I show good performance, I won this fight and I take WBC title back to me.

“The story is not interesting without the end. You can win the title, you can lose the title. You can win the belt many times, and you can lose the belt. But most important point, you can’t win or lose your reputation – keep your word and go always straight.

“That’s why I want to thank for Don Jose, for all representatives for WBC – you keep your word, you go straight, and you support interest for sportsman. I try to keep for as long as possible WBC title. Never lose reputation of WBC. Thank you very much.”