23.01.04 – The WBC Executive Office in Mexico City has requested the 38 votes of WBC Board of Governors to select the World Boxing Council awards for the best in boxing in 2003. For BOXER OF THE YEAR, the candidates are: Roy Jones Jr. USA (49-1), for regaining the WBC light heavyweight world title with a victory over Antonio Tarver in a very close fight on November 8. He also defeated John Ruiz to win the WBA world heavyweight belt.
Floyd Mayweather USA (31-0), for his two successful defenses of the lightweight title against Victoriano Sosa on April 9, defeating him by points in 12 rounds, and Philip Ndou on November 1, defeating him by TKO7.
Oscar Larios Mexico (52-3-1), for being very active with three defenses of his super bantamweight world title. He defeated Shigeru Nakazato on April 26 by points in 12 rounds, even though he fought from the seventh round on with a fractured jaw. He also defeated Kozo Ishii by TKO2 and Napaphol Kiattisakchocchoi by TKO10.
Shane Mosley USA (39-2-0), who won the super welterweight title with a victory over Oscar de la Hoya in a very controversial decision on September 13.
Erik Morales Mexico (43-1-0), for his two featherweight title defenses and his elimination fight for the superfeather title. In his two defenses, he defeated Eddie Croft by KO3 on February 22 and Fernando Velardez by TKO5 on October 4. In his third bout he defeated Guty Espadas by KO3.
For FIGHT OF THE YEAR, the candidates are: Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko on June 21. This bout was considered by many as the greatest in many years when Lewis overpowered Klitschko, because of a cut on his left eyebrow, after Lewis was losing in the judges cards.
Shane Mosley vs Oscar de la Hoya on September 13. This was a very close and controversial fight; a classic match, close but not sensational.
Ricardo Mayorga vs Vernon Forrest on July 12. Mayorga won a very close and even bout.
For MOST DRAMATIC FIGHT OF THE YEAR, the candidates are: Injin Chi vs Michael Brodie on October 18. Chi, of Korea, and Brodie, of England, drew over 12 rounds. The British press said that this was the best bout staged in England in the last ten years.
Roy Jones vs Antonio Tarver, November 8. Jones conquered the world light heavyweight title of the WBC with a victory over Tarver in a close and controversial decision.
Danny Green vs Eric Lucas, December 20. A great bout in which Green conquered the WBC super middleweight interim title.
For EXEMPLARY BOXER OF THE YEAR the candidates are: Jorge Arce, Mexico (36-3-1). Arce participated in the TV show “Big Brother” and became a hero to the Mexican fans. He suffered discrimination at the beginning, but won national support and held his ground until the end of the show, taking boxing to the ultimate level of admiration and excitement in Mexico. Arce made two title defenses, one on February 22 against Ernesto Castro, whom he defeated by TKO1, and the other against Melchor Cob, which he won by technical decision on May 3. Arce is an authentic example of excellence in and out of the ring.
Veeraphol Nakhonlunang, Thailand (41-1-2). He has made two successful defenses of his bantamweight world title. He defeated Hugo Dianzo on May 1 in 12 rounds, and drew with Toshiaki Nishioka on October 4. He has been an example of excellence to all boxers of the world, with unimpeachable behavior in and out of the ring.
DAY OF WORLD MOURNING:
The World Boxing Council declared a day of world mourning for the passing away of 80-year old Henry Elespuru on January 14, in Sacramento, California, after a 14-year battle with cancer. A native of Blackfoot, Idaho, “Hank” Elespuru was a boxing coach and an employee of the California State University of Sacramento, as well as one of the very best ring officials of the last 25 years. He refereed 24 WBC world title bouts with participants such as Erik Morales, Yuri Arbachakov, Terry Norris, Kosta Tszyu, Chiquita Gonzalez, and many other outstanding boxers. Mr. Elespuru leaves an unforgettable example of loyalty to the WBC, having exclusively performed at WBC-sanctioned fights for a quarter century.
The World Boxing Council community is deeply saddened by the passing away of this great ring official and friend who will be always remembered within this organization, and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Jayne, and his daughter, son and grandchildren.
FROM THE BANGKOK POST¦
January 11, 2004 – The World Boxing Council (WBC) has granted Thailand the honor of hosting its 42nd Annual Convention.
The Kingdom of Thailand was approved as site for the WBC Annual Convention in 2004 by the unanimous vote of the WBC Board of Governors cast last year in Moscow, in response to the kind offer to organize the convention presented by Pol. Gen. Kovid Bhakdibhumi, President of the Asian Boxing Council.
With this convention, Thailand will be setting a record with the hosting of five annual conventions of the biggest and most important boxing organization in the world, the WBC, and every one of them has been an unforgettable event as all attendants take back with them pleasant memories of this beautiful country and its gentle and warm people.
Phuket is a paradisiac tourist place with wonderful attractions for all visitors and will certainly enhance the excitement all convention delegates find in every WBC-sponsored gathering. The beauty of this city was confirmed by Convention Chairman Chuck Williams, who visited Phuket last Thursday, and congratulated Gen. Kovid for choosing such a wonderful place to host this event. He added that most likely a record attendance will be set since many people know about the splendor of this city.
The convention dates are: September 26 (arrival) to October 2 (departure). The name of the site hotel and the rates will be disclosed shortly.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT FINAL ELIMINATOR…
The super featherweight final elimination bout ordered at our convention in Moscow, between No. 1 ranked Mzonke Fana of South Africa and No. 2 ranked Randy Suico of the Philippines, has been signed and will take place in South Africa in April.