It’s been a busy year already and my set objective for the World Boxing Federation to fill all its world titles in 2012 looks like becoming a reality sooner rather than later.
At a WBF Executive Committee meeting, it was suggested that this aim was a little far fetched and perhaps after only two and a half years of restructuring the original World Boxing Federation this was somewhat too optimistic. But I have always believed in hard work and having a great team and we have encompassed both within a short period of time.
My January visits to Mexico and New York were indeed beneficial for the WBF. Not only did I meet some outstanding promoters, but I also met some fantastic boxers all interested in fighting for our titles. Our growth in Mexico has been phenomenal and the potential growth in the USA is extremely encouraging. We will certainly continue to embrace our potential partners with integrity, transparency and reciprocal enthusiasm.
A quick glance at our champions list shows that we have world title holders at heavyweight, cruiserweight, lightheavyweight, lightwelterweight, superfeatherweight, featherweight, bantamweight and lightflyweight. With world titles soon due in the middleweight, superwelterweight, welterweight, lightweight, superbantamweight, superflyweight, flyweight and strawweight divisions – it means that we are just about full, and the beauty is that most of our champions are indeed world class and could hold their own against virtually any other champion in the world.
I am looking forward to returning to Guadalajara in a few weeks when the hugely popular Juan ‘Goofy’ Montes will be fighting for our vacant superflyweight world title against former title holder Carlos Ibarra in what promises to be an outstanding and gruelling matchup. I am delighted to be seeing promoter Hector Garcia again whose tournaments and organization are always of the highest standards.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing Federation
