While Covid-19 continues to
thwart the normality of our
lives, the one thing that is for
sure is that boxing is slowly
returning to the world.
Perhaps differently, the return
of boxing has facilitated huge
adaptations to ensure the safety
of all concerned in our sport.
The World Boxing Federation
returned to action On August 14
with a title fight in Tanzania
with local superstar Hassan
Mwakinyo claiming our
intercontinental super
welterweight title.
The day after that fight I
received a call from Mwakinyo’s
team calling out world champion
Lasha Gurguliani from Georgia.
That fight might happen sooner
than we expect.
Of course our Slovenian princess
Ema Kozin faces the toughest
test of her career in early
September with a daunting
opponent in former world
champion Chris Namus of Uruguay.
It will be an interesting
contest and Ema will be tested
to the full.
With WBF fights lined up in the
next few months it is refreshing
to see that our champions and
challengers will be returning to
do what they do best, and also
to allow our officials to resume
work in championship bouts.
We may be far from knocking out
this virus, but we’re on the
right path and it will take a
huge collective effort from all
to ensure victory against this
terrible virus.
Harsh as the virus may be, and
deadly as it has proven to be,
there is great simplicity in its
path of destruction. It has no
brain, only destructive brawn.
Humanity has the brains to beat
this simple yet dangerous virus.
It is wonderful to see boxing
back but I urge one and all not
to relax but to take all safety
precautions and follow all
health guidelines to ensure the
well being of our boxing
community, and in fact our
world.
Until next time,
keep punching.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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