05.01.06 – From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: The World Boxing Council is confirming the celebration of the Night of Champions in paradisiacal Cancun, Mexico, from January 28 to 31. The Night of Champons is intended to be the greatest boxing ceremony in the history of the sport with the number of great champions of the present and past who have confirmed their attendance.. The host hotel will be the five-star Grand Oasis Hotel, located on the beautiful Caribbean beach in Cancun.
The WBC Awards for 2005 will also be presented. Floyd Mayweather, Jermain Taylor, Erik Morales, Manny Pacquiao, Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales, Thomasz Adamek and others will be awarded. Laila Ali will receive the award for WBC 2005 Female Boxer of the Year, the first time that this award has been presented. Laila has shown greatness in her undefeated career, and that she has the same makings of her father, the great Muhammad Ali
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28: A WBC world title boxing event will be presented at the bullring Plaza de Toros Cancun, with WBC interim flyweight world champion Jorge Arce making a defense of the title in the rematch against Adonis Rivas, plus one WBC Muaythai title bout, one WBC female championship bout, one WBC Youth championship fight and a 12-round elimination bout in the strawweight division. The fight card will be the most significant one ever held in the state of Quintana Roo, and televised nationally in Mexico.
WBC Muaythai Super Featherweight World Championship:
Keo Fairtex, Thailand, vs. Bin In Wook, Korea.
WBC Flyweight World Championship:
Jorge Arce, Mexico, vs. Adonis Rivas, Nicaragua.
WBC Featherweight Youth Professional Championship:
Rodolfo “Rudy” López, Mexico, vs. Freddy Bandon, Nicaragua.
WBC Strawweight Final Elimination Bout:
Rodel Mayol, Philippines, vs. Lorenzo Trejo, Mexico.
WBC Super Bantamweight Female World Championship:
Jackie Nava, Mexico, vs. Kelsey Jeffries, USA.
Plus Special Attraction – Lightweights:
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Mexico vs. Carlos Molina, Mexico.
Three more four-round bouts will complete the card.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29: A tour of the most beautiful places in this paradisiacal city of Cancun.
MONDAY, JANUARY 30: A golf tournament, beach volleyball tournament, etc., for champions, promoters, managers, commissioners and other people of boxing coming to the celebration. The purse offer will be held at the Grand Oasis Hotel for the fight between Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31: Morning: convertible and folkloric trucks parade with all the present champions saluting the people of Cancun, to whom we are showing our support for the tragedy of hurricane Wilma.
Evening: The great “Night of Champions” ceremony, when the WBC and people from around the world will render a tribute to all present WBC world champions, former great WBC champions and former Mexican world champions.
Awards presentation for the WBC’s “Best of the Year 2005.”
Everyone is invited to attend, and can make their reservations for the Grand Oasis Hotel and the dinner with the WBC Executive office: by fax at (011) 52-55-5715-0139, or email to teresawbc@controlesgraficos.com.mx; or with the WBC office: by fax at (011) 52-55-5119-5293 or (011) 52-55-5119-5294, or email to mnicolat@wbcboxing.com