WBA Europe Convention Closes with a Successful Fight Night in Madrid – World Boxing Association
The inaugural WBA Europe Convention wrapped up on Wednesday, July 17, with a dynamic night of both amateur and professional boxing at Teatro Las Vegas in Madrid—bringing together rising prospects and established names under one roof. Part of the World Boxing Association’s growing regional push, the event featured eleven bouts and was hailed as a resounding success by organizers and attendees alike.
In the main event, Moroccan super featherweight Moussa Gholam (23-1, 14 KOs) successfully defended his WBA Continental Americas title with a dominant unanimous decision over Argentina’s Maximiliano Verón (11-1, 4 KOs). In a high-paced, tactical chess match, Gholam once again proved he’s a legitimate contender on the world stage.
The co-main saw two-time Olympic gold medalist Arlen López (5-0, 2 KOs) of Cuba showcase his class against Mexico’s seasoned veteran Paúl Valenzuela Cuesta (28-12-1, 18 KOs). López retained his WBA Continental Americas light heavyweight title with a commanding unanimous decision, using distance control and clinical precision to outbox his opponent.
Germany’s unbeaten Bujar Tahiri (19-0, 9 KOs) captured the WBA Continental Gold middleweight strap in the third title bout of the evening, outpointing Argentina’s Jonathan Sánchez (25-7-1) in a disciplined performance where he dictated the pace and landed clean, telling shots throughout.
The undercard featured four six-round professional bouts and a strong lineup of amateur contests, highlighting the WBA’s commitment to grassroots development and the next generation of talent.
The night served as the perfect finale to a convention that gathered delegates from over 20 countries, including WBA President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, Bulgarian judge and WBA Europe director MarÃa Borisova, and numerous institutional figures from across the European boxing landscape. The event underlined the WBA’s regional momentum and long-term vision for the sport.