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Very often I tend to write
general and pertinent articles
but allow me this time to
transgress slightly and focus on
our growth in
Mexico. Interestingly, a
respected boxing friend in the
USA told me it would be very
difficult to enter the Mexican
market given the stronghold
exercised by other sanctioning
bodies.
While his comment might have
been accurate at the time, he
underestimated the
determination, professionalism
and growth of the World Boxing
Federation over the past two
years, and the continuing
respect we have earned and keep
gaining as we progress. My
response to him was simply wait
and see.
Mexico has indeed become an
important part of the World
Boxing Federation, and continues
to play a significant role. It
is evident that promoters there
see us as being an honourable,
honest and forthright
organization with a passion for
boxing. So much so that I
decided to play a supportive
role to these promoters and to
do some travelling to Mexico,
arguably the country with the
finest boxers in the world.
A country where boxing is not
only a passion and an emotive
issue, but more so a way of
life. There is an abundance of
talent, an unrivalled passion
and a focus on putting on some
of the best boxing in the
world. I went to supervise the
WBF world super flyweight title
fight in Guadalajara on the
weekend of February 24 and
witnessed one of the finest and
most exciting fights I have seen
in decades.
Juan José Montes and Oscar
Ibarra put on a world class
display of boxing skills, showed
courage and true grit, and had
the capacity crowd on its feet
for five minutes after the final
bell sounded – such was the
effort put in by both warriors.
The love for boxing in Mexico is
incredible and I must compliment
Sergio Sotelo, our Coordinator
in that area for all his effort
in growing and developing the
WBF in Mexico. So while Mexico
grows at a rapid rate for the
WBF, let me not for one second
forget all our other countries
and promoters who do such a
sterling job, and who we are
indeed appreciative to work
with.
Each and every country,
promoter, administrator, trainer
and fighter from all over the
world is as important to us at
the WBF as is everyone else. I
will be in future columns
looking at other countries and
promoters, but it would be
remiss of me not to mention the
excellence of Hector Garcia, the
leader of HG Boxing in Mexico.
Hector is clearly a boxing
fanatic and to see the joy on
his face after Montes was
announced the winner and new
world champion was a sheer
delight. Hector always puts on a
well organised and quality
events, just as boxing
should be. He is also a
wonderful host and looked after
me in the most professional
manner.
The World Boxing Federation
prides itself in working with
professional people and winners.
Hector is certainly one of them.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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