2018 WBO CONVENTION WILL BE IN COSTA RICA; THE PHILIPPINES TO BID FOR HOSTING OF THE 2019 CONVENTION

Aboard Norwegian Sky ? Next year's WBO convention will be held in Costa Rica, the rugged and rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and the Pacific, this was approved by the WBO executive committee during the final day of the 30th WBO convention held here Thursday. Puerto Rico, ravaged by two powerful hurricanes just last month, was made as a backup if Caribbean island would be able to recover in time.

Abraham Mitra, the Philippines' Games and Amusement Board chairman, offered to host the 2019 convention in the Philipppines. WBO president Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel told Mitra to prepare a presentation for next year's convention as hosting the convention in the Philippines requires great logistics and most of the participants will be coming from the United States, South America and Europe.

Mitra told Philboxing he was confident the Philippines will be able to host the prestigious event in 2019.

The Philippine delegates to the WBO 30th convention (L-R): Referee Danrex Tapdasan, Rossel Mitra, promoter Kenneth Rontal, GAB chairman Abraham Mitra, Liza Elorde, Florskie Rontal and Johnny Elorde.