WBC 2007 Convention: Ratings Update

The 2007 WBC Convention in Manila continues the meet with great success and today all the ratings in each weight class were discussed with open discourse for all promoters and managers.

During the afternoon session, the mandatory defenses and final elimination bouts were voted by the WBC Board of Governors.

In the heavyweight division, Vitali Klitschko was confirmed as the next mandatory challenger to face the winner of the fight on February 3 between WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev and WBC Interim Champion Samuel Peter.

All three fighters are required to file with the WBC, a medical examination performed by a WBC approved physician. Several scenarios were discussed in the case that injuries would prevent any of these matches from taking place.

Manny Pacquiao has been confirmed as the mandatory contender for WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

A direct rematch has been ordered between WBC Interim Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor and Jose Armando Santa Cruz after their very controversial split decision of November 10.

WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson must mount a voluntary defense by January 25, 2008 while Adrian Diaconu remains the mandatory challenger of the division.

Carl Froch and Dennis Inkin were ordered to fight in a final elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger for the super middleweight division.

Sergio Martinez was ratified as the mandatory challenger in the Super Welterweight division.

A final elimination bout between Timothy Bradley and Jose Luis Castillo has been ordered to find the mandatory contender in the super lightweight division.

Hector Velazquez and Elio Rojas must fight each other to determine the mandatory contender in the featherweight division.

Promoter Gary Shaw must provide signed contracts for the rubber match between WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Israel Vazquez and former champion Rafael Marquez. The mandatory challenger for the super bantamweight division is Napapol Kiatisakchokchai.

Verapol Nahkoluang has been ordered to fight Vusi Malinga in a final elimination bout for the mandatory spot in the bantamweight division.

A fight between Jorge Arce and Martin Castillo has been confirmed as a final elimination bout in the super flyweight division.

Omar Nino will fight Juanito Rubillar as a final elimination bout in the light flyweight division.

A fight card was held at the Monumental Asia Mall in Manila with the featured event a spectacular wrestling match between the son of legend “El Hijo Del Santon” from Mexico and “The Red Dragon” from Japan. An honorary WBC Green Belt was awarded to the winner, El Hijo Del Santo, as a tribute to the great athletes to perform inside the ring in the sport of wrestling.

Yesterday was a very active day at the 45th annual WBC convention in Manila. Some of the resolutions of the day include:

Manny Pacquiao has been awarded the Emeritus Championship during a very emotive ceremony last night and joins the following WBC Emeritus Champions:

Konstantin “Kostya” Tszyu
Erik Morales
Lennox Lewis
Vitali Klitschko
Bernard Hopkins
Floyd Mayweather

The WBC has decided to include a Boxer’s Representative in the Board of Governors to represent the interests of boxers and former boxers. Former three weight world champion Jeff Fenech was unanimously selected as the first Boxer’s Representative.

Don Majeski was selected as the Manager’s Representative in the Board of Governors, joining Salvatore Cherchi who was voted in two years ago as the Promoter’s Representative.

A new list of levels for boxers will be created during the upcoming year, to be implemented in 2009. All boxers in the world will be placed in a level, or bracket, according to their current abilities with consideration of such factors as:

Amateur careers
Number of professional fights
Number of rounds fought
Record
Style
Latest results

This categorization of boxers is intended to match fighters with opponents in the same level and avoid mismatches that are dangerous for the health of boxers and many times, unfair to the public.

The WBC will work through 10 Continental Federations, affiliated with the WBC, for the implementation of a World Format of Authorization for traveling boxers seeking reciprocity in all countries, to ensure that the boxers are not suspended and are medically cleared to fight by their local boxing commission.

A World School of Trainers will be launched.

A plan to help former two weight world champion Michael Nunn, who is incarcerated and in desperate need of help, will be studied and presented on Friday.

The second day for Ring Officials was a great success. Dedicated to referees, the day’s attendance of 140 officials was considered one of the greatest.