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Having just returned from a
lengthy journey from Bogota,
Colombia, I reflected on a
highly successful and satisfying
trip. In front of a packed
arena, top class Alexander Brand
comprehensively beat the
dangerous defending champion
Bernard Donfack to win the WBF
world super middleweight title
producing a sharp and flawless
world class performance.
Alexander
Brand moved his already
impressive record to 24-1 (19),
with his only loss being a
highly disputed points decision
against current WBC champion
Badou Jack. In the top twenty in
the world Brand was a hero after
the fight to virtually everyone
barring one newspaper reporter
who claimed that the title was
not real!
Ironically,
the thousands who watched in
excitement and who shared in
Brand's victory thought
otherwise. They witnessed their
local hero putting in an
outstanding effort and being a
deserving winner. To see
Alexander Brand and his promoter
Oscar Gomez literally cry with
joy in the ring after the
announcement of his victory said
it all. Words were not
necessary.
So what about
the solitary reporter who
questioned the validity of
Brand's new world title? I have
been in boxing for four decades
and have met hundreds of boxing
reporters, many of whom are
excellent, do their research and
write their stories in an
unbiased and informative manner.
They care about boxing and
boxing people, rather than write
speculatively to make a story.
There are some reporters who
favor certain organizations more
so than others, and who are
sometimes reimbursed on the
quiet to write stories either
favoring such organizations or
damning others. Thank goodness
that these reporters are seen
for what they are.
The World
Boxing Federation and myself as
President are always open to
meet the press, to do stories
and our request in turn – not
demand, but request – is for
these reporters simply to write
the truth. I have no problem
with critical reporters
questioning certain issues, but
reporters who are clearly biased
and who are not interested in
the truth I have no time for.
Colombian
Alexander Brand, the new WBF
world super middleweight
champion, owner of an
outstanding record, hero of
Bogota and Colombia – and yet
this solitary reporter,
reportedly affiliated to another
organization, questions the
legitimacy of Brand's title!
Brand is a
champion. He is a champion
inside the ring. He is a
champion outside the ring. He
has done Colombia proud.
Interesting that this solitary
reporter who questioned the
fight did not come to the
weigh-in, nor the press
conference after the fight. That
alone shows his inadequate
reporting.
Alexander
Brand joins the impressive list
of WBF world champions, a list
that includes Evander Holyfield,
Humberto Soto, Francois Botha,
Jan Zaveck, Michael Grant,
Carlos, Takam, Marco Antonio
Rubio, Malcolm Klassen and so
many more. All proudly wearing
the blue WBF championship belt
in their time. I look forward to
meeting this reporter in
Colombia in December when I
return there, and perhaps he
will do his homework and
research this time around.
Congratulations once again to
Alexander Brand and his entire
team for making both the WBF and
Colombia proud.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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