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From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: The WBC was founded in 1963, and the following are some of the numerical statistics that show the importance of the institution in the history of boxing in the second half of the 20th Century. This has been a long 50-year historical period that has been strengthened by the service of the WBC to the sport of boxing in all fields of the sport.
The WBC elected Onslow Fane from the British Boxing Board of Control of Great Britain as its first president, followed after his resignation by Luis Spota of Mexico.
The first two fights sanctioned by the WBC were in February, 1963: Dick Tiger vs Gene Fullmer in Las Vegas, which ended in a 15-round draw, and Gabriel Elorde vs Johnny Bizarro in Manila, Philippines, which Elorde won by 15-round decision.
RAHMAN VS BARRETT THE 1,500TH BOUT IN WBC HISTORY
1,500…
The fight for the WBC world interim heavyweight title between Hasim Rahman and Monte Barrett will set the extraordinary record of 1,500 world title fights sanctioned by the World Boxing Council since the WBC’s birth in 1963.
100…
This bout will be the WBC’s 100th world title fight in the heavyweight division.
The first world heavyweight champion recognized by the WBC in 1963 was Sonny Liston, who lost the title to Cassius Clay – later known as Muhammad Ali - who would become the greatest fighter of all time.
The WBC has witnessed nineteen excellent fighters become world champions in the heavyweight division, such as Muhammad Ali himself, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield, and currently Vitali Klitschko, who has been inactive due to injuries.
20…
If Monte Barrett wins, he will become the WBC’s 20th heavyweight world champion. Hasim Rahman has previously held the WBC heavyweight world title, and would become a two-time champion.
Rahman and Barrett, both from the U.S.A., are the winners of final eliminators against Kali Meehan and Owen Beck respectively, and will contend for the prestigious belt of the World Boxing Council on August 13 at the United Center of Chicago, Illinois.
Hasim Rahman’s professional record is 40-5-1, with 33 knockouts, while Monte Barrett’s is 31-3-0, with 17 knockouts. The winner will become the WBC world interim champion and will be bound to contend for the world undisputed title against Vitali Klitschko.
1,500 and counting…
MEDICAL SAFETY SEMINAR IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA…
The WBC will organize and participate in a medical safety seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia, from August 21 to August 25. The doctors in charge of the seminar will be the Chairman of the WBC Medical Advisory Board Dr. Paul Wallace, and Vice-Chairman Dr. Nasser Cruz of the Philippines. The ring officials seminar will be led by the Chariman of the Ring Officials committee Hubert Minn, and Bruce McTavish.
This seminar is of prime importance because of the multiple fatal accidents in boxing in that country. Indonesia has had five boxing fatalities in the last 18 months.
The WBC’s priority will be to recommend to the Indonesian authorities the creation of a national medical board to be absolutely independent from the boxing commission, and will have the only authority to approve fights on medical matters.
It has been said, and is being researched, that the people in Indonesia have a propensity for the APOE-4 gene that is believed to generate a propensity for brain damage, which is being researched.
The WBC is also recommending the installation of a new system which will have a button at ringside that when pushed, will make a ringing sound and flash red lights on the four corner posts of the ring. This will be activated by the chief ringside physician when a referee does not stop a fight that should be stopped.
There are many other recommendations that the WBC will make in Indonesia, as well.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2005
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By Presser (Aug 9, 2005)
