20.01.05 – From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: The WBC office has received information that super welterweight world champion Winky Wright will fight as a middleweight against Tito Trinidad, and consequently not make his title unification bout with interim champion Francisco Castillejo. If this information is confirmed, Castillejo will be declared the undisputed WBC super welterweight champion of the world, and have to defend the title at the soonest possible time against a mandatory challenger to be designated by the WBC Board of Governors..
Lou DiBella, on behalf of Jose Navarro, has presented a dispute to the WBC regarding the split decision victory in favor of Katsushige Kawashima in their fight on January 3, and requested an immediate rematch. The WBC has appointed a review committee to watch the tape, with their conclusions to be sent to the Board of Governors for a vote on the next step to be taken by the organization, and the possibility of a rematch. The WBC has always given serious consideration to close fights whenever the decisions are disputed and controversial, as it is of utmost importance to have fair solutions.
The WBC will not, however, accept an immediate rematch. Immediate rematches are not supported by the WBC rules except on very rare occasions, and have been authorized less than 10 times in the last quarter century.
The WBC medical team led by Dr. Paul Wallace in Phuket, Thailand, is currently giving medical support to the tsunami victims in the area. Dr. Wallace is also trying to institute computer software to help identify some of the bodies that have been found there, and we hope that this operation is successful. The WBC is extremely concerned for the victims welfare, and humbly participating in the exemplary unified world effort to provide help to the nations that were devastated.
Golden Boy Promotions has offered to donate to the victims of the tsunami one dollar for every ticket sold for the Bernard Hopkins-Howard Eastman middleweight mandatory world title fight on February 19. Oscar De La Hoya has offered to personally match the amount raised by the promotion, and Bernard Hopkins has done the same. The WBC is very grateful to Oscar and Bernard for their concern and commitment, and expect that other promoters in the world will do the same with their next promotions.
It was a very good fight, a classic match between the excellent boxing of Navarro and the hard-punching style of Kawashima. It was a very close fight, as well, and we are confident that the vote of the Board of Governors will provide a fair solution.
The WBC is very sorry, however, that when a party is not happy with a decision, instead of presenting a respectful request, they make slanderous accusations that continually tarnish the credibility of the sport of boxing. The WBC will be contemplating the possibility of instituting some kind of discipline in those situations.
South Africa boxing will celebrate its National South Africa Annual Boxing Awards and Convention from January 28-30 in Johannesburg, where they will review their boxing plans for the year of 2005, have medical and other clinics, as well as presenting the awards for boxers of the year 2004. Dr. Sam Ramsami, the president of the South African Olympic Committee, and WBC Governor Dr. Peter Ngatane will represent the WBC at this memorable occasion.
A new chairman of the Games and Amusement Board in the Philippines has been designated by the President of that country, her excellency Gloria Macapagal. Mr. Eric Buhain will replace Mr. Eduardo Villanueva, who stepped down after four years of being the head of the Boxing commission in the Philippines.
Upcoming World Championship Fights:
January 29 – Atlantic City, New Jersey – Super Lightweight World Championship
Champion Arturo Gatti (38-6, 29 KOs, Jersey City, New Jersey) vs
James Leija (WBC No. 4, 47-6-2, 19 KOs, San Antonio, Texas)
January 29 – Osaka, Japan – Flyweight World Championship
Champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (54-2, 28 KOs, Nakhon Ratchaseema, Thailand) vs
Noriyuki Komatsu (WBC No. 10, 19-1-5, 8 KOs, Osaka, Japan)
January 30 – Seoul, Korea – Featherweight World Championship
Champion Injin Chi (29-2-1, 18 KOs, Seoul, Korea) vs
Tommy Browne (WBC No. 20, 17-2-1, 7 KOs, New South Wales, Australia)
February 5 – St. Louis, Missouri – Welterweight World Championship
Champion Cory Spinks (34-2, 11 KOs, St. Louis, Missouri) vs
Zab Judah (WBC No. 10, 32-2, 23 KOs, Brooklyn, New York)
February 10 – Lemoore, California – Super Bantamweight World Championship
Champion Oscar Larios (54-3-1, 35 KOs, Guadalajara, Mexico) vs
Wayne McCullough (WBC No. 9 at 126 pounds, 27-4, 18 KOs, Las Vegas, Nevada)
February 19 – Los Angeles, California – Middleweight World Championship
Champion Bernard Hopkins (45-2-1, 32 KOs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) vs
Howard Eastman (WBC No. 2, 40-1, 35 KOs, Battersea, England)