The World Boxing Federation has today announced a partnership with Internet boxing records database www.boxrec.com. The British-based website will provide world rankings for the WBF generating monthly computerised listings direct from their extensive records archive.
The WBF have already cemented a worldwide network of promoters and fighters working closely with them and their current stable of champions include Francois Botha (Heavyweight), William Gare (Supermiddleweight), Kreshnik Qato (Middleweight), Bongani Mwelase (Superwelterweight), Mlungisi Dlamini (Lightweight) and Lububalo Msutu (Bantamweight).
And now with Boxrec on board the organization’s president Howard Goldberg is optimistic the WBF will enhance its reputation and attract more interest in the organisation.
“The Boxrec ratings are computer generated and so there is no way they can be manipulated to favour fighters who are aligned to certain promoters,” said Goldberg.
“They are a highly respected boxing website who will provide us with a clean set of rankings without any bias to anybody. They are the industry watchdog and arguably produce the most accurate ratings out there.”
“If our champions don’t figure in the top 25 then at least we are showing we are a transparent sanctioning organisation. We will publish honest, unbiased and realistic ratings indicating true and accurate ratings of respective fighters,” added Goldberg.
“We will use the Boxrec ratings when considering fighters who want to challenge for our titles and see where they figure in the listings,” said Goldberg.
Already the WBF have a full calendar of fights being lined up for 2010 and a highly intriguing announcement regarding Francois Botha’s next defence of his heavyweight crown will be made soon.
Goldberg also wants to forge relationships with new territories around the globe and invites promoters to come forward and discuss sanctioning applications and other WBF opportunities. The Executive Committee also plans to unveil the new WBF world championship belt at a press conference to be held in Germany next month.
“It’s an exciting time for the WBF,” said Goldberg.
“There is a lot of hard work to be done. We hope to be back in places like the UK next year. They have people like Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe setting up new promotional companies and we would love to hear from them.”
