Critical agenda up in WBC confab

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain said yesterday a critical item for discussion in the coming 45th WBC convention is the authentication of fight records which requires close coordination among national commissions.

“The basis for ratings is a fighter’s record,” Buhain pointed out. “If there is no confirmation of a result by a national commission, it will not enter into a fighter’s record. So it’s important for fights to be sanctioned. Ratings are important to determine the classification of a fighter and whether he can be in contention for a title.”

Buhain said during the convention, he will address the problem of boxers signing fight contracts without their home commission’s approval and leaving themselves unprotected from exploitation. In the Philippines, the practice is rampant as unscrupulous boxing managers avoid obtaining GAB clearance to freely export fighters, mainly to Thailand, for blood money.

A slew of ring legends is expected to attend the convention at the Manila Hotel on Nov. 11-17 as Buhain, playing host, rolls out the red carpet for over 700 guests from some 160 countries in what he called “a celebration of the fight game and a tribute to Philippine boxing.”

Among the stars tipped to grace the convention are former champions Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis, Oscar Larios, the Klitschko brothers and Erik Morales. Mike Tyson has expressed interest to attend but may be prevented to leave the US due to a recent brush with the law.

Although the atmosphere in the convention will mainly be festive, Buhain said five days of working meetings are also in store for the delegates.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman will preside in tackling a long agenda that includes when to score a 10-8 round without a knockdown, upgrading medical standards for the protection of fighters and facilitating communication among national commissions.

Buhain said veteran officials Tom Kaczmarek and Herbert Minn will conduct a seminar for referees and judges.

Manila is hosting its third WBC convention. The first was at the fifth convention in 1967 and the second at the eighth in 1970. Thailand tops the list of host Asian countries with conventions in 1985 (Bangkok), 1991 (Bangkok), 1995 (Chiang Mai), 2001 (Pattaya) and 2004 (Phuket). Seoul hosted in 1981 and Tokyo in 2002.

Buhain said over 400 guests are confirmed so far with 50 from Japan and 40 from Korea.

“There were 740 delegates in last year’s convention in Croatia and we’re hoping to come close to that number or exceed it,” said Buhain. “Korea will have a strong presence as it is experiencing a boxing revival. In Japan, boxing continues to enjoy widespread popularity with about 250 days of promotions a year. In the Philippines, we’re lucky to have 100 promotions and they’re usually outside of Metro Manila.”

Buhain said Morales will stage a wrestling match between the popular Mexican star El Hijo del Santo and a Japanese champion on the eve of the convention.

“We will coordinate where to hold the match,” said Buhain. “There will be a boxing card on Nov. 14 at the Rajah Sulaiman Park and we proposed to include the wrestling match in the event. But we understand Morales wants to do it at the Manila Hotel.”

Morales told The Star in an overseas telephone interview last Sunday he plans to stage the wrestling match on a stand-alone basis. He will fly in with El Hijo and arrange for the Japanese champion’s arrival from Tokyo.

Buhain said Lewis has verbally indicated he will attend but will confirm this week. Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez may also come, depending on whether he has an agenda to take up at the convention, added the GAB chief.