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The WBF world
super welterweight title fight
in Slovenia a few weeks ago
epitomized the continuing growth
of the World Boxing Federation
for all the right reasons. Two
outstanding fighters, former IBF
world champion and home favorite
Jan Zaveck and the hugely
talented Armenian, living in
Belgium, Sasha Yengoyan, 31-1 as
the defending champion,
contested a high-quality and
exciting world title event,
superbly organized by promoter
Tomaz Barada.
In front of a
packed arena with more than
5.000 enthusiastic spectators
Zaveck emerged victorious to the
delight of his home fans, while
Yengoyan showed great
professionalism and character in
accepting defeat on the night,
in the most humble of ways.
Former world champion Yengoyan
will be back, of that you can be
sure, such is his grit and
determination as a human being.
Interestingly
enough, a different promoter a
few years back suggested that
Slovenia was not the right place
to stage such a WBF world title
fight – how wrong he has proven
to be. Slovenia as a country,
its people, its boxing
fraternity, welcomed the WBF
with open arms so much so, that
discussions are already underway
for another WBF world title
fight in this beautiful country
in the near future.
The WBF's
policy and philosophy remains
unchanged and even stronger than
ever. We want world class
champions, we will never cut
corners, and we will never
compromise on the high standards
we set in boxing. I look forward
to the next fight in Slovenia
where I have undertaken to be
there myself to witness yet
another excellently promoted
event.
Another exciting WBF world title
event coming up shortly will be
in Brazil where the talented WBF
world middleweight champion
Isaac Rodrigues, 21-2, takes on
the very dangerous WBF
Intercontinental super
welterweight champion from South
Africa Nkuleleko Mhlongo, 15-2
(14).
Having seen
Mhlongo in his last fight,
Rodrigues will need to at his
very best in order to retain his
title. Again this fight is
indicative of the fact that the
WBF provides opportunities to
their Intercontinental and
International champions, moving
them if they are deserving, into
world title fights.
Finally I would like to extend
all the WBF's best wishes to our
young second Vice President
Torben Seemann Hansen of
Denmark, who recently celebrated
his 70th
birthday. Happy birthday,
Torben, and many, many more.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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