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This week, on Tuesday to be
exact, WBF President Howard
Goldberg had no time to taste
his birthday cake. Rather, on
the day he turned a sprightly 55
years young, the South African
head of the World Boxing
Federation did what he does
basically every day: Being on
the telephone, on skype, on
email with fight people from
around the globe. And, of
course, mapping out his lastest
travels.
To be precise, on his birthday,
Goldberg booked the airticket
for his second trip this year to
Germany, in order to meet with
his Vice President Jean Marcel
Nartz, an icon in German boxing
history.
“We are a global organization,
with staff members, promoters
and champions spread around the
world,” explains the boss from
Cape Town, “so for me to travel
is part of the job.”
And this job, Goldberg takes
serious for sure, because after
all, the WBF’s long-term goal is
nothing less than becoming one
of the sport’s premier
sanctioning organizations.
To achieve this, the fulltime
President’s schedule is mostly a
hectic one. Besides doubling as
Continental Coordinator for his
native African continent,
Goldberg makes a point to
support each and everyone
connected to the WBF, regardless
of the travelling strains he
loads upon himself. In 2012
alone, he has been on
intercontinental planes more
than a dozen times, in places as
far apart as Germany, New
Mexico, Korea or Malta.
But if you think the airlines
love the WBF, then think again.
Goldberg is quick to point out:
“This is a main difference
between the WBF and the
so-called bigger organization:
We never ask for business or –
God forbid – first class tickets
from our promoters, because we
don’t blackmail or exploit our
partners financially. Everybody
in the WBF, myself as President
included, will always fly
economy class. After all, we
want to support boxing and not
take advantage of it.”
Thus, it is off to Germany again
next month for Goldberg, meeting
with Nartz and other staff
members, talking with promoters,
thanking WBF champions for
proudly holding the WBF belt up
high and tirelessly pushing the
World Boxing Federation to the
threshold of global recognition.
Birthday or not. |
