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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
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