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Firstly as we begin a new year,
let me wish each and every one
of you a good, happy and
successful 2011.
After a highly successful first
year back as the World Boxing
Federation, I thought very hard
a few days ago as to what our
expectations and objectives
would be for 2011. The answers
were in fact quite simple and
were as follows. We aim to
continue being an honest, open,
transparent and professional
organization who believe in
affording opportunities to world
class boxers, up and coming
boxers, trainers, promoters and
officials. We aim to build and
foster strong relationships with
our stakeholders and we aim to
instill trust and respect in the
boxing game - something sadly
missing in world boxing today.
We aim to develop countries with
their boxing and to assist them
wherever and whenever possible
and above all we aim to deliver
the highest standards possible.
So what lies in store for the
World Boxing Federation in
2011? We are already discussing
and negotiating fights in USA,
Brazil, Mexico, Cameroon,
Botswana, Morocco, South Africa,
France, Ireland, Denmark,
Australia to mention but a few.
Evander 'The Real Deal'
Holyfield kicks off the year
and will be defending his world
title against Sherman 'The Tank'
Williams in January in West
Virginia with a further fight
scheduled for the first quarter
of the year. Brazil will be
hosting the WBF International
Heavyweight title fight with
Raphael Zumbano and Francois
Botha in April with two women’s
world titles scheduled for the
same show. South Africans
William Gare and
Lubabalo
Msuthu
are scheduled to defend in
March, while up and coming
superstar
Matima
Molefi will
have a crack at the vacant
featherweight title at the end
of March.
Our Mexican superstar Manuel
Jimenez has a defense lined up
for late February and we look
forward to some potentially
exciting news from Mexico within
the next few weeks. Don't forget
our deadly duo from Poland,
Pawel Kolodziej and Dawid Kostecki and we hope that their
defenses are also concluded in
the next few weeks. Kgotla Baeti
from Botswana also gets an
opportunity to fight for our
lightweight title in March in
what would be an historic event
for that country.
Let us also not forget the
equally important sector of
women’s boxing where our
champions are clearly among the
best in the world. These ladies
of ours, who hold our world
title belts with such pride, are
remarkable ladies and we are
indeed extremely proud not only
of their achievements in the
ring, but for the class they all
show outside the ring. I am
extremely excited by their feats
and will definitely do some
travels to watch them in action
this year.
It is our aim to fill our titles
with outstanding fighters,
fighters who show class in and
out of the ring. Fighters to
whom young children will aspire
and fighters who can make a
difference in the lives of these
children growing up - simply by
being role models to all.
Let's get ready to rumble in
2011!
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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