Yet again another year passes quickly by and no time to rest as we start working on the 2016 year with some exciting programs and title fights lined up already. It was a busy 2015 with the WBF remaining a strong global player, gaining further ground with ventures into Zambia, Trinidad, Greece, Costa Rica and back into Korea where I had extremely fruitful discussions with the Korean Boxing Association.
While we are extremely proud of all our World Boxing Federation champions, I must make special note of the world class WBF super middleweight champion from Bogota, Colombia, Alexander Brand who cemented his position as one of the finest 168 pounders in the world with exceptional performances.
South Africa finally had boxing back on television, and several promoters put on WBF title fights, but again special mention must be made of “Don Queen” Mbali Zantsi who staged two tournaments in the space of four months with four WBF titles. What a pleasure it is for the WBF to work with such a professional like Mbali.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our promoters, boxers, champions, trainers, managers and in fact all people involved with boxing a wonderful festive season and all the success for 2016. To the WBF representatives around the world operating on every continent, we appreciate your incredible efforts and hard work and look forward to seeing you at our Convention next year.
Diana Spasova, the WBF General Secretary for whom nothing is too much trouble, our appreciation to you. To my WBF Executive and Championship Committees, a big thank you for your sterling work. My two wise Vice Presidents Jean Marcel Nartz and Torben Seemann Hansen, thank you for keeping me sane most of the time and for the experience and wisdom you bring to the WBF senior executive table.
And then, finally, to our Executive Director Olaf Schroeder, who tirelessly and (most of the time) without fuss gets all the nitty gritty done, and done to perfection. The WBF is truly a family, a family who looks out for one another, and a family whose values are based on honesty, integrity and transparency.
It is now the time to lay down the tools and spend quality time with loved ones, who so graciously allow us the immense time we need in order to make the WBF not only work, but continue to grow. To the families of the WBF members, the biggest thank you goes to you.
We are about to enter the New Year, and I am delighted to announce the first addition to the WBF team. We have appointed as Chairman Jung Pyo Kim from Korea who actually is the President of the Korean Boxing Association and whose portfolio will be to run the WBF Asia Pacific region. He has already been hard at work and we have our first world title in Korea for 2016 in March, which I will personally attend to lend him my support at this early stage of his new position.
Some further exciting additions to our team will be announced early next year, watch this space. Again, I wish you all a wonderful festive season and a healthy, wealthy and successful New Year.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing Federation
