|
“This
was the best convention we have
had in our relatively short
convention history and
definitely worth coming all the
way from Cape Town,” summarized
a hugely satisfied WBF President
Howard Goldberg after a very
busy week in Maribor, Slovenia.
And surely it was fun, too, with
living legend Nino Benvenuti
making a deep impression on all
and ready to rub shoulders with
everyone. It was typical
close-nit WBF style: No hundreds
of overlooked participants, but
a family-style event with just
over
100
delegates from around 20
countries. No haggling and
backroom deals, but friendships
being renewed or formed.
And, most of all, a World Boxing
Federation that stands strong
and upright for their principles
such as a transparency unknown
in the sport or the utter
rejection of creating silly
titles which kill the sport and
serve to fill pockets only.
The seminars provided an
interesting blend of uniqueness
and hard facts. Especially
spiritual-minded former world
champion Donny ‘Golden Boy’
Lalonde enjoyed the lecture on
boxing and meditation, provided
by WBF Womens World Lightweight
champion Nicole Wesner, while
Dr. Adam Balogh’s medical
seminar invoked a lot of
interest.
Said Stephan Posch, Director of
Sports of the German Boxing
Association (GBA): “It was very
interesting and very informative
indeed.”
Especially impressed was WBF
International Heavyweight
champion Werner Kreiskott who
soaked up everything and
commented enthusiastically: “It
were great, interesting days
full of variety and fun. I met
many wonderful people and
champions and I am proud to be
part of the WBF. A big Thank you
to the whole WBF team and I hope
to see everybody again soon. So
grateful for the experience and
respects for the work the WBF
did.”
This opinion was reflected by
Christian Roesen: “A really big
Thank you for this perfectly
planned and wonderful,
professional Convention. It was
certainly not my last WBF
Convention to attend. Those
perfect days in Maribor were a
pleasure and I am really proud
to wear the WBF badge on my
chest,” said the up-and-coming
ring official from Germany.
Undisputed star of the WBF
Convention, however, was without
a doubt the all-time ring legend
Nino Benvenuti, the greatest
Italian fighter of all time, who
had a very good time and
impressed everyone, being
down-to-earth, gentlemanly,
distinguished and very eloquent
in giving addresses.
While everyone knew that the
majority of today’s fighters
aren’t fit to lace his shoes,
Nino called them “better than
yesterday’s boxers” and humbly
said about his historic
achievements “I think I didn’t
do too bad.” – which brought him
standing ovations.
He was truly touched by his
career-highlight movie as well
at being awarded a WBF miniature
belt and when jogging to the
podium at what seems fighting
weight, even Donny Lalonde – not
exactly a bad world champion
himself – mused about the
78-year-old great: “How old is
he?? An amazing experience
meeting this legend!”
In fact, Benvenuti so much
enjoyed the WBF Convention that
when saying good-bye to WBF
Executive Director Olaf
Schroeder he remarked: “See you
at the next Convention!” Be our
guest anytime, Nino, and thanks
for allowing us mortals to rub
shoulders with you.
While the WBF team will keep on
treasuring the Maribor moments
and new WBF champions began to
proudly wear their blue belts at
the WBF Championship Boxing
Night, maybe Maribor will have
gained something of “such an
important event for us” (Bogdan
Gabrovec, the President of the
Slovenian Olympic Committee at
his Opening Ceremony speech) and
miss a bit – like Mexico’s
Daniel Rivera Lopez
spontaneously singing with a
street band, Kuwait’s Abbas
Sadeghi showing dance shuffles,
and the list of memories could
certainly go on.
It was fun, it was insightful
and it was a testimony for what
the World Boxing Federation
stands for. Thanks to all
champions for giving their time
to everyone and thanks to each
and every attendee. See you all
next time!
|
