We are but seven weeks away from our Convention in Medebach in Germany and great excitement is mounting at a rapid rate.
Firstly let me say that our move from Oberhausen to Medebach was unavoidable due to a difference in opinion with the German Boxing Association (GBA) over a show that took place recently in Germany.
The details of the show are now history, suffice to say that I was ordered to remove a trusted senior member of the WBF in order for the GBA to continue working with us. This of course was never going to happen.
The WBF is a family and we will never be told who to hire or fire. I had even contacted the GBA offering to fly out immediately to have constructive dialogue with them, but for some unknown reason this was declined by their President.
The result was that the GBA refused to work with the WBF and the scheduled WBF title fights at the Convention were suddenly changed to another sanctioning body. The promoter in addition informed me that he could not stage WBF fights at the convention.
Obviously we moved into fifth gear, and, thanks to the hard work of Executive Director Chris Rosen and general secretary Susi Schroeder, within 48 hours we had secured another city, another promoter and another venue.
The most important thing for me personally is the getting together of old friends, new acquaintances and to talk boxing, reminisce and have fun, while of course doing a bit of boxing, as well as rewarding and acknowledging people who have made positive contributions to the WBF.
We are going to have a fantastic time at a hotel which offers so much, and we are counting down the days to what promises to be a wonderful adventure.
On the boxing side, we continue to fill our titles with two quality world title fights taking place at the end of the month in South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively.
Zimbabwean star Charles Manyuchi takes on former WBF world champion Diego Gallardo for the middleweight crown, while unbeaten rising lightweight star Ayanda Nkosi is pitted against former WBA world champion Emmanuel Lopez of Mexico for the lightweight strap.
Many fights are lined up in October including shows in Slovenia, Russia, Turkey, Japan, South Africa to mention but a few.
I look forward to seeing you all in Medebach – and those who are flying in please remember to send Susi and Christian your time of arrival as well as the airport of arrival so that you can be collected timorously.
Until next time, keep punching.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing Federation
