Philippines, 26 Mar 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


21st WBO CONVENTION NOTES AND PHOTOS


PhilBoxing.com




FT LAUDERDALE, Florida--The curtains fell yesterday for this year's 21st WBO Annual Convention held at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa here, but the promise of a more successful tomorrow dawned on the close to 500 delegates all over the world who congregated to make it a memorable event.

WBO president Paco Valcarcel, re-elected this year to head the world's most prestigious boxing organization for the next four years, thanked everybody for taking time from their busy schedules to attend the program, especially the boxers who continue to work hard for the sport they love.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, the officials' seminar was conducted by the Association of Boxing Commissions, and at the end of the lectures, exams were conducted on the officials for them to get ABC accreditations.

Long-time WBO supermiddleweight king Joe Calzaghe was this year's WBO Fighter of the Year, having won the title in 1997 and keeping his record intact after 46 fights with 32 KO's. He is the longest-reigning super middleweight champion with 21 record-breaking title defenses.

The WBO Fight of the Year is the give-and-take Joe Calzaghe vs Mikkel Kessler battle, a unification bout between two unbeaten warriors attended by more than 50,000 fans, the largest indoor boxing event in European history.

Legendary promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank was chosen as Promoter of the Year.

Special mention went to Oscar De la Hoya, cited as the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotion company and holder of the pay-per-view record.

The night's biggest winner, however, appeared to be international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, who received just about one-third of all trophies given away for representing different fighters all over the world, and "for successfully spreading his wings in Asia."

Lewkowicz, winner of six consecutive WBO matchmaker of the year award, was also a runaway winner of the ratings deliberation held earlier in the day.

Golden Boy Promotions' Eric Gomez is this year's Matchmaker of the Year, while WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo was also cited by WBO president Valcarcel for his trailblazing success in Asia, prompting vice-president Rudy Paz to quip: "Leon walks on water in what he's doing in Asia."

GAB Chairman Eric Buhain and Commissioner Angel Bautista were also given Special Recognition by the WBO.

ALA Promotions' Michael Aldeguer was chosen as Manager of the Year, while SGG's Sammy Gello-ani received the Oriental Promoter of the Year plum.

Top photo: WBO President Paco Valcarcel (C) with Filipino delegates promoter Sammy Gello-ani (L) and Edward Ligas.















Photos by Salven Lagumbay.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Pacman to stage ‘Thrilla’ celebration
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 26 Mar 2025
  • May 10: Emanuel Navarrete-Charly Suarez Junior Lightweight Title Showdown & Raymond Muratalla-Zaur Abdullaev Interim Lightweight Title Fight
    , Wed, 26 Mar 2025
  • Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan 2 Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Wed, 26 Mar 2025
  • ROBERT GUERRERO III REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH IMPRESSIVE 2ND ROUND TKO IN LAS VEGAS DEBUT
    , Wed, 26 Mar 2025
  • LENIER PERO PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
    , Wed, 26 Mar 2025
  • Team Law Office of Peter Chin-Durias representing Misamis Occidental swept 1st CDO Chess Grandmaster Quest Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 26 Mar 2025
  • WBA, WBO AND RING MAGAZINE MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR “EL PUPILO” COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • SHOWTIME BOXING PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF MICHAEL HUNTER VS. CHRISTOPHER LOVEJOY MAIN EVENT
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • CAPITO BACK ON TOP AS SIX PLAYERS KNOCKED OUT ON JUDGEMENT DAY | 2025 IFX PAYMENTS PREMIER LEAGUE POOL
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions Signs Undefeated Super Bantamweight Prospect Sheldon Vallotton to Promotional Contract
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 24 March 2025: Fundora Stops Booker in 4; Kambosos Outpoints Wyllie; Brown Edges Nicolson
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • Socrates Batoto: A Champion of the Orient, Inspired by the Great Flash Elorde
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • Llover Halts Kurihara in the Very First Round, Completes Conquest of OPBF Bantam Crown
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR JOURNALIST COLIN HART
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • Concio faces tough competition in Victoria Sports Club Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • OKC Nips LA Clippers in Late Season Struggle; Keeps League Lead, Drops Clips to 8th
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 24 Mar 2025
  • CHUA TAKES CONTROL AT THE TOP | 2025 IFX PREMIER LEAGUE POOL
    , Mon, 24 Mar 2025
  • IIEE champ in billiard, PICE repeats in bowling and GEP draws 1700 runners in PTC WED
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 24 Mar 2025
  • Datamatics A are kings of Atty. Quirino Sagario Memorial Chess Team Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • Star Frisco: Fighting with Heart, Never with Fear
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION GEORGE FOREMAN
    , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • WORLD NINEBALL TOUR ANNOUNCES BLOCKBUSTER AUGUST SWING ACROSS AMERICA
    , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • Do the Oddsters Know Something We Don't?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • Sebastain Fundora Makes Long Awaited Return Headlining PBC on Amazon Prime Card
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • GEORGE FOREMAN (1949–2025): THE GENTLE GIANT WHO TAUGHT US TO FIGHT WITH KINDNESS
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.