WBC News: Lewis, Klitschko Withdraw Lawsuits
22.05 - From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: "Both heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis and official challenger Vitali Klitschko have withdrawn their lawsuits against the World Boxing Council, as they have reached an agreement regarding their mandatory world championship fight. In any instance, the WBC will proceed with the 30-day free negotiations period beginning on July 1, with a purse offer to be held 15 days later if no agreement is reached.
"Three of the Continental Federations affiliated with the WBC will be holding their annual conventions in the next two months. The North American Boxing Federation opens today in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and continues until May 24. This is an election year for the NABF. Claude Jackson has made such a tremendous effort and done such an excellent job as president that it is the general belief that he will be re-elected for a second term.
"The European Boxing Union is holding its 2003 convention in Prague, Czech Republic, for two days beginning on the sixth and seventh of June coming.
"The Caribbean Boxing Federation convention is scheduled to be held in Aruba in July."
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS…
May 3 Las Vegas, Nevada
WBC super welterweight world champion Oscar De La Hoya, 36-2, with 29 knockouts, of Los Angeles, Cal., made his second defense of the title with an eighth-round TKO victory against Yory Boy Campas, 80-6, with 68 knockouts, of Navojoa, Mex. Oscar gave a very strong effort and dominated the fight. He wore down Campas with accurate combinations and Campas' corner stopped the fight at 2:54 of the sixth round. Referee Vic Drakulich penalized Campas one point earlier in the sixth round for repeatedly dropping his mouthpiece. After the fight, Oscar said, "I got what I wanted. I got a win, got good work, and my right hand was better."
Erik Morales, 44-1, with 33 knockouts, of Tijuana, Mex., successfully defended the WBC featherweight world title for the third time, and TKO'd Bobby Boy Velardez, 24-5-1, with 6 knockouts, of San Bernardino, in the fifth round. Velardez gave a determined effort, but Morales simply overpowered him - he scored one knockdown in the first round, two more in the fourth and another in the fifth, and referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 1:02.
Jorge Arce, 34-3-1, with 25 knockouts, of Los Mochis, Mex., retained the WBC light flyweight world title for the third time with a sixth-round technical decision against No. 1 ranked Melchor Cob-Castro, 66-9-4, with 30 knockouts, of China, Campeche, Mex. Cob-Castro scored a knockdown ion the third round when Arce's glove touched the canvas, but Arce had the edge in most rounds with his busier pace. Arce was cut twice by two accidental head clashes in the sixth round. The fight was stopped and went to the scorecards, and Arce led by scores of 59-55, 59-55, 58-56. Joe Cortez was the referee.
May 1 Bangkok, Thailand
WBC bantamweight world champion Veeraphol Sahaprom, 41-1-1, with 29 knockouts, of Nakhon Ratchaseema, Thai., made his tenth successful title defense with a 12-round unanimous decision against Hugo Dianzo, 30-8-1, with 14 knockouts, of Mexico City, Mex. Both boxers gave strong efforts in a very good fight, but Veeraphol maintained a clear edge in most of the rounds. Scored 117-111, 118-110, 118-110.
April 26 Ledyard, Connecticut
Antonio Tarver, 21-1, with 17 knockouts, of Orlando, Fla., won the vacant WBC light heavyweight world title with a 12-round unanimous decision against former world champion Montell Griffin, 44-4, with 29 knockouts, of Chicago, Ill. Tarver gave an impressive performance - he scored one knockdown in the first round, cut Griffin on the right eyelid in the seventh round and scored another knockdown in the twelfth. Scored 120-106 on all three scorecards. The referee was Michael Ortega.
After the fight, Tarver said, "I never thought I'd be here, but here I am, light heavyweight champion of the world. I've put in a lot of hard work to get where I am."
April 26 Tokyo, Japan
WBC super bantamweight world champion Oscar Larios, 48-3-1, with 33 knockokuts, of Guadalajara, Mex., won a 12 round decision against Shigeru Nakazato, 23-6, with 18 knockouts, of Okinawa, Jap. Larios started fast, built an early lead and scored a knockdown in the fifth round. But Nakazato rallied in the second half of the fight and staggered Larios in the sixth and eighth rounds.
Larios went to the hospital immediately after the fight, and his business manager, Rafael Mendoza, said that his jaw had been broken. "It happened in the ninth when he took Nakazato's left hook to the jaw. Since then, he complained of pain, so had to jab and move without mixing it up." Larios said, "This was the toughest fight I ever experienced. Nakazato was really strong."
April 5 Leipzig, Germany
Markus Beyer of Eriabrunn, Ger., regained the WBC super middleweight world title with a 12 round split decision against defending champion Eric Lucas, of St. Julie, Que. Making his fourth title defense, Lucas, now 36-5-3, with 13 knockouts, built an early lead but Beyer, 27-1, with 11 knockouts, rallied midway through the fight and some rounds were close. The judges scored 116-114, 116-113 Beyer, 115-114 Lucas. Laurence Cole was the referee.
Beyer previously held the WBC title in 1999 and 2000. After the fight, he said, "It's a huge feeling. After three years, I can hardly describe it." Lucas commented, "I'm disappointed with the decision. I did my job. It wasn't the best fight of my life, but I did what I had to do to win."
Lucas' promoters protested the decision and the WBC Board of Governors, after reviewing a videotape of the fight, has voted to order a rematch. The WBC does not accept direct rematches, however, and has authorized Beyer to make a voluntary title defense with the winner being committed to fight Lucas.
