On the eve of Francois Botha's
WBF world heavyweight title
defence against Pedro Carrion in
Dessau, Germany on October 24, a
meeting took place with some of
the most influential boxing
people from South Africa, Europe
and the US. The feeling of the
assembly was that while World
Boxing Foundation president Mick
Croucher of Australia had worked
wonders with his organization,
it was now at a point of
stagnating, with the inability
to progress to a higher level.
The meeting felt that in order
to take the organization to
greater heights and to realize
its high potential it would need
to be revamped and that a new
dynamic and influential
executive needed to be formed.
The decision taken at the
meeting and after careful legal
considerations had paved the
way, was to go back to our
original roots and form anew the
World Boxing Federation,
inviting all existing champions
of the World Boxing Foundation
to simply switch their titles
and come across as the new and
current World Boxing Federation
champions and continue the
legacy (more on the WBF’s more
than 20-year history soon to be
published on this website).
We are delighted that world
champions Francois Botha
(heavy), William Gare (supermiddle),
Kreshnik Qato (middle), Bongani
Mwelase (superwelter), Mlungisi
Dlamini (light) and Lububalo
Msutu (bantam) have immediately
come across to the World Boxing
Federation. In addition
virtually all the
Intercontinental and
International champions have
followed suit. We are also proud
to announce that we have six
world title fights lined up in
Europe over the next four
months, as well as several
others across the world. All
ring officials will also be
welcomed into the World Boxing
Federation with immediate
effect.
We have set up a new executive
structure, one we feel will
elevate the World Boxing
Federation to a much higher and
more professional level. This
structure which has been
implemented with immediate
effect is as follows:
President Howard Goldberg (South
Africa)
Vice Presidents Ron Scalf (USA)
and Matteo Fratini (Italy)
Additional Executive
Members: Jean Marcel Nartz and
Olaf Schroeder (both Germany)
The WBF’s good friend and
partner, Ylli Ndroqi of Albania,
will represent us as Honory
President and is planning to
hold the WBF World Convention
next March in his countries’
capital Tirana, details to
follow. Several further exciting
projects are being discussed at
present.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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