WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

Mexico City - August 20, 2003

From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:

"Brad Jacobs, the business representative of Roy Jones Jr., has asked the WBC for approval for Jones to fight Antonio Tarver, the present WBC light heavyweight champion of the world, who defeated Montell Griffin for the title vacated by Roy Jones Jr. for the first and only time on April 15, 2003, after Jones won the WBA heavyweight title from the hands of John Ruiz. The fight has been scheduled for November 8.

"To find the official challenger for Tarver, the WBC had ordered an final elimination bout between No. 1 ranked Clinton Woods of England and No. 2 ranked Paul Briggs of Australia, but Woods declined the fight. Consequently, the WBC has approved a final elimination fight between Briggs and George Khalid Jones of New Jersey.

"There are still a few votes of the 36 total that have not been received from the Board of Governors, but the majority of votes that have already been received is in favor of approving the voluntary defense for Tarver against Roy Jones Jr., with the condition that the winner of that fight must meet the winner of the final elimination bout.

"If Tarver wins, he must make his next title defense against the winner of the WBC final elimination bout. If Roy Jones Jr. wins, he will have 15 days to either agree to defend the title next against the winner of the final elimination bout or to relinquish the WBC light heavyweight title to keep the WBA heavyweight title that he now holds. In that case, the WBC light heavyweight title will be declared vacant, with the winner of the elimination bout to be the official challenger to fight for the vacant world title."

"During its coming annual convention in Moscow, the World Boxing Council will submit to the General Assembly the ratings of all boxers in each weight division and the mandatory defenses by world champions, as well.

"The General Assembly will vote on several elimination bouts between the highest rated contenders to find the official challengers for mandatory world title defenses.

"Consequently, the WBC is officially informing all promoters, representatives, managers and boxers that they should be in attendance or send a representative who participates in all recommendations, discussions and final votings.

"In light of the short time left before the commencement of the WBC convention on October 5 through October 10 in Russia, all those interested in attending and participating in support of the merits of the boxers they represent must immediately request a visa application form that is available at the WBC Executive Office in Mexico City. The WBC has a policy, a custom and a rule that every year, ratings and mandatory defenses must be put before the attending world boxing community, as well as the WBC Board of Governors for consideration and approval at every annual world convention, which has been done at every one of our 40 annual world conventions.