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Former world Light Heavyweight
champion Donny “Golden Boy”
Lalonde has decided to give his
full backing to the World Boxing
Federation (WBF) by joining the
WBF administration team in the
capacity of Regional
Representative for Malta, the
Mediterranean island state he
recently made his home base
after moving there from Costa
Rica.
“The
fair, honest and transparent way
the WBF goes about its business
has convinced me,” said the
56-year-old Canadian, and
continued: “I believe I can add
value to the WBF team, not just
by developing professional
boxing in Malta, but also
because of my knowledge and the
name and respect I enjoy in
boxing worldwide because of my
own ring career.”
After initially leaning towards
ice hockey, Canada’s national
sport, Lalonde turned to a
professional boxing career in
1980. Seven years later, he was
at the pinnacle, having won the
vacant WBC world title by
knocking out Eddie Davis.
Lalonde then kayoed former WBA
champion Leslie Stewart in 1988
in his first defense, before he
lost to “Sugar” Ray Leonard in a
historic million-dollar fight in
Las Vegas, having the great
Leonard on the floor initially.
After that, Donny moved up to
Cruiserweight, but came up on
the short end of a decision in a
WBA title challenge to Bobby
Czyz in 1992.
He retired, came back, retired
again, came back once more, but
finally hung up his gloves in
2003, ending a splendid career
with a fine 41-5-1 (33) record.
Another exciting addition to the
WBF team is 28-year-old, but
long-time boxing administrator
Lukasz Anielski from Poland.
Anielski, who outside boxing
studies law, will take over as
East European Representative
from countryman Dr. Zbigniew
Lagosz.
While Lagosz will make sure of a
smooth start for Anielski with
the WBF, he himself will join
the WBF Championship Committee
with immediate effect. Lagosz,
by the way, received his
doctorate in religious sciences
from the Jagiellonian University
in Krakow and is prolific author
when not engaged in boxing.
“Our
WBF staff keeps getting better
and better,” announced a
thrilled WBF President Howard
Goldberg from his office in Cape
Town, South Africa, “It speaks
volumes for the World Boxing
Federation that a former star
fighter like Donny joins us.”
“I
am also happy about Lukasz
Anielski coming on board,
because with the real WBF I have
no doubt he can finally realize
his huge potential as an
administrator. As for “Zibi”
Lagosz, who is a longtime and
invaluable member of the WBF, I
believe we have found the right
person for the hugely important
role he is to play in the
Championship Committee.”
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