Las Vegas — The WBO Executive Committee with its president Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel chairing, opened the General Assembly Tuesday morning with positive reports coming from the different WBO regional Vice-Presidents during the 2nd day of the organization’s 27th annual convention being held at the historic Caesar’s Palace Hotel here.
Championship Committee Chairman Luis Batista Salas reported that the organization sanctioned 38 world championship fights during the last 12 months, the most by any boxing body in the same period.
Former Hungarian world champion Istvan Kovacs, who is now the WBO Vice President for Europe, reported a marked increase of 28 WBO sanctioned fights this year compared to last year’s 11. WBO Vice President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo, who Valcarcel described as “like a puppy when he started in Asia a decade ago but now he is a giant in the region,” reported a continued positive growth of WBO sanctioned fights especially with the increased fights in Macau, mainland China and Japan and the steady fights in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Next to report were WBO Vice President for Latin America Jorge Molina and WBO Vice-President for North America Richard De Cuir, the regions who hold most of the organization’s sanctioned fights.
During the break, awards were given to several personalities headed by German light heavyweight champion Marco Huck, who was recognized as a super champion for having defended his title 13 times.
A specially made belt will be given by the WBO to Huck similar to the belt received by 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao when the Filipino boxing superstar got the same recognition by the organization.
Two-division world champion Donnie Nietes of the Philippines, who is in the running to better Filipino boxing legend Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde’s seven years plus championship reign, was given a Special Recognition Award for his exploits in the ring.
Another Filipino, Genesis Servania, was awarded as the WBO Inter-Continental Fighter of the Year. ALA Promotions’ Michael Aldeguer also received the Asia-Pacific promoter of the year award.
Popular promoter Felix ’Tutico’ Zabala received the Latin America promoter of the year while International matchmaker Sean Gibbons received a Special Recognition for his contribution to the sport.
Toward the end of the day, a Chinese delegation submitted a proposal to the Executive Committee related to commissioning boxing in China which President Valcarcel calendared to be decided before the convention ends./DONG SECUYA OF PHILBOXING.COM
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