WBA: Klitschko remains No. 3 contender
26.11 - WBA Press Release: CARACAS, Venezuela - We like to inform that the World Boxing Association (WBA) released its new ratings on November 25. As you will notice, these ratings correspond to the SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2002 period. We want to make it clear that this is an exceptional case since ratings are always made on a MONTHLY BASIS. Yet, due to the controversy that surrounded the September 2002 ratings released after our Annual Convention, which was held last September in Washington D.C., our organization decided to take a new direction in the way ratings are made.
The first step of this new era was taken last October 16 in New York, where WBA officials led by Executive Director Gilberto Jesús Mendoza held a hearing in which they offered an explanation about what had happened with the controversial September ratings to the world press, fighters, managers and promoters.
Wrong data loaded to the computing programs normally used to make the ratings caused the problem, for which the WBA offered its apologies to everyone involved in boxing whom may have been affected, especially to fans and fighters.
"We are human beings and make mistakes," said Mr. Mendoza at the public hearing, which was the first of its kind. Following that, the September 2002 ratings were vacated.
Instead of releasing a new ranking right away, which could have resulted in a premature action, we decided to take into account both September and the following month's (October 2002) results before releasing the new ratings. That is why the current ratings correspond to a two-month period, as an exceptional case.
KLITSCHKO'S SITUATION
We also want to clarify Vitali Klitschko's current situation in our current heavyweight rankings, as misunderstandings seem to have occurred. Mr. Klitschko will remain the No. 3 contender (No. 2 is not rated) in the ratings until we know our current mandatory challenger Evander Holyfield's situation. This decision is based on a previous decision made by our Executive Committee last February.
At that time, Mr. Holyfield had made a request for a direct rematch against WBA current heavyweight champion John Ruiz. The petition was denied as the Executive Committee considered that there were not sufficient reasons to grant it.
However, an Elimination Tournament was ordered with the participation of the first four highest ranked contenders with Mr. Holyfield facing the winner. The four eligible contenders were Mr. Klitschko, Mr. Larry Donald, Mr. Oliver McCall and Mr. Nicolay Valuev.
Mr. Klitschko beat Mr. Donald on November 23, while both Mr. McCall and Mr. Valuev have not been available to fight. Mr. McCall has been incarcerated while contractual problems have prevented Mr. Valuev to fight in the United States.
On the other hand, we have been informed that Mr. Holyfield is scheduled to face Mr. Chris Byrd for another organization's title, December 14, 2002, in which case he would be resigning to his current No. 1 position according to our rules. In that case, Mr. Klitschko would be moved to the No. 1 spot in the December ratings, which will be released on January 2003.
However, the WBA cannot dismiss Mr. Holyfield from its ratings before knowing whether or not the scheduled fight against Mr. Byrd takes place.
THE MEDIA'S OPINION
In a revolutionary decision, after our October 16 hearing in New York, WBA President Gilberto Mendoza decided to take the world's rankings to the next step by giving an active participation to the world's boxing media in the structuring of the WBA ratings.
Several proposals are being considered at the moment, while the goal is to implement some of them as soon as possible. Among those proposals is an Internet poll, which would include the participation of some of the most prestigious boxing specialists of the world. That would generate a confrontation between our Ratings Committee's and the media's opinion, resulting in a unified ranking.
Other options being considered include a select panel of boxing analysts, which would serve as councilors, representing the press opinion.
However, as we have not made a final decision we are open to hearing and discussing your suggestions.
