By David Finger
Photos: Sumio Yamada

The second day of the 103rd Annual WBA Convention continued Saturday morning at the Caribe Royal Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida with the WBA Directorate Meeting. Carlos Chavez called the meeting and once a quorum was established and the invocation was given by by WBA member Won Kim.

The meeting started with a video giving a summary of the WBA fights in late 2023 and 2024 and the numerous fights in the various regional organizations. With over 400 fights in over 70 countries (featuring over 700 fighters), the WBA remained one of the busiest organizations in boxing.

Yon Kim’s work with WBA Asia was highlighted during a video presentation, followed by a summary of WBA Africa’s work since the last convention. Although the WBA only saw three regional fights in Africa in 2024, they lived up to their reputation as pioneers of the sport with separate fights in Guinea and most recently Benghazi, Libya. North America was summarized, with over 74 regional fights featuring over 120 boxers, as well as a brief summary of the WBA Fedelatin.

Two of the newer regional organizations of the WBA, the WBA Ibero-America and the WBA Mediterranean also were highlighted, followed by the always active WBA Europe. Some controversy emerged during the presentation when Ron Pavett of the British Board of Boxing Control (BBBC) expressed frustration over two fight WBA title fights taking place in the United Kingdom featuring “unlicensed” boxers. Elle Coulson would go on to win the WBA Oceania middleweight title in Mansfield, England when she defeated Australian Jamie Edenden via ten round decision. This despite the fact that fight featured at least one unlicensed boxer. A second WBA Oceania fight involving an unlicensed fighter also was scheduled to take place, this one featuring Holly McMath and Ruqsana Begum. that clash was slated to take place on November 11 in London but apparently was scratched. Pavett nonetheless expressed concern over the emergence of WBA sanctioned fights in the UK involving unlicensed boxers, something that WBA president Gilberto Mendoza Jr. promised to address with Pavett later in the convention.

WBA President’s Report

Next on the agenda was the WBA President’s Report. President Mendoza played a video that addressed some of the exciting news of the past year, including the success of KO Drugs, the consolidation of regional entities, which included the WBA’s first regional conference in Vietnam this year. President Mendoza also traveled to Spain as part of the emergence of the WBA Ibero-American and WBA Mediterranean titles. From there, President Mendoza introduced one of the WBA’s friendly rivals in WBO President Gustavo Oliveira. Mendoza and Oliviera both presented a medal to Amaury Piedra of Boxlab Promotions, who has quickly established Boxlab as one of the most successful promotions in Florida. President Mendoza then spoke about his strong friendship with the new WBO President. Although the WBA and WBO have historically not always seen eye to eye in how to best represent boxing, the two men showed a genuine admiration and friendship, with Mendoza talking about how they worked out many of their personal differences for the betterment of the sport.

“We had a disagreement over boxing concepts and we talked over coffee in Saudi Arabia and I think that conversation has strengthened our friendship.”

WBA Champions Celebrated

After the President’s report a special event took place featuring a trio of young fighters from the WBA Academy, a program to help young fighters realize their dream of becoming professional boxers. From there dozens of former and current WBA champions were introduced and honored by the WBA, highlighted by a special belt being awarded to one of the most legendary former welterweight champions of all time: Felix “Tito” Trinidad.

Rankings Meeting (Women)

After lunch the WBA continued with the rankings meeting, and although the championship committee meeting will follow on Sunday, there was still no shortage of fireworks. Starting with women’s rankings.

At 175 pounds a request was made for undefeated Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs), who is fighting Clarissa Shields on February 2nd of next year. Although already fighting Shields, her team expressed a desire to see the fight be for a WBA world title. At 168 pounds Peter Kahn, manager for champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, indicated that they would be announcing a fight in a few weeks. Roberto Diaz made a request for #2 Roquel Miller to move into the vacant #1 spot.

At middleweight Michael Leanardi of Most Valuable Promotions made a compelling push to have the 1-0 Tammara Thibeault to be put in the rankings. Although 1-0 would usually not warrant a world ranking, being that Tammara just defeated the #10 ranked middleweight in Natasha Spence the night before at the Most Valuable Promotions fight card at the convention made for a strong argument to make an exception for the Canadian.

At 135 pounds Marshal Kauffman made a push for #2 ranked Stephanie Han of El Paso. Han, who sits on a 9-0 record, has impressed fans since turning pro in 2021 and looks well poised to fight for a world title in 2025.

In the 126-pound division Sarah Fina of Split Team Boxing asked for 17-0 Tiara Brown to be named the mandatory for Amanda Serrano while Chris Meyer made a request to have #8 ranked Sofie Alisch move up in the rankings.

At 118-pounds Marshall Kauffman pushed for #2 raked Brittany Sims and #4 Bree Howling to move up. He indicated he would like them to possibly fight each other for mandatory ranking, noting he worked with both fighters. Roberto Diaz interjected and pushed for #3 ranked Rianna Rios to fight either of them for the mandatory, something Kauffman seemed open to as well.

At 102-pounds there was a push for #4 ranked Spaniard Isabel Rivero, the current WBA Ibero-American champion, to get a title fight. If she were to win she would be the first Ibero-American champion to win a world title.

Rankings Meeting (Men)

By late afternoon, upon the completion of the women’s ranking’s discussion, the next topic went to men’s boxing and the requests for fighters to move into the rankings. In the heavyweight division discussions kicked off on the newly crowned “world” champion Kubrat Pulev making a voluntary defense (Oleksandr Usyk is the “Super Champion”). However, as it is an issue is for the championship committee Pulev’s defense will be discussed tomorrow. Other familiar faces asked for consideration in the rankings including Jarrell Miller and Luis Ortiz. #4 ranked Lenier Pero received a push to move up the rankings and a proposal for a elimination between Pero and anyone ranked in the top ten.

At bridgerweight Tony Gonzalez of BOXXER Promotions pushed for Richard Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KOs) to enter the rankings. Riakporhe lost his last fight in a WBO cruiserweight fight but Gonzalez announced he is formally moving up to the bridgerweight division.

At cruiserweight Sarah Fina pushed for #12 Paul Bamba to fight for a regional belt and enter into top ten. Chris Lawrence pushed for #1 ranked Yuniel Dorticos to fight winner of Gilberto Ramirez. Joe Deguardia pushed for Joe Smith (#9) and Tony Gonzalez of BOXXER pushed for Chris Billam-Smith to be ranked as a cruiserweight and for Anthony Yardee to be pushed in the rankings at light heavyweight. David Gazarian from RCC Boxing in Russia pushed to have undefeated Dennis Savitsky (11-0-1) enter the WBA light heavyweight rankings. Savitsky’s last four opponents had a combined record of 39-6, with all four of the fights being wins for the Russian and two of them being against fighters who were undefeated.

At super-middleweight Kevin Rooney of Matchroom Boxing asked for the WBO #1 ranked Diego Pacheco (22-0) to be put into top ten of the WBA, and more specifically to replace Jermall Charlo, citing Charo’s inactivity. At middleweight #4 ranked Ian Green made a personal request alongside his team to move up the rankings, while Kevin Rooney pushed for #9 Austin Williams to replace #3 Connor Coyle, who Rooney claimed has turned down fight with Williams. Requests also came in for Shane Mosley Jr. (#2) and Chris Eubank Jr. to get a top 4 ranking.

In the 154-pound division Sarah Fina from Split Team Management pushed to have Ardreal Holmes (17-0, 6 KOs) in the top 15, citing his impressive win over undefeated Edwine Humaine Junior in his last fight. A request also came from Mario Arano to see Adrian Sasso from Argentina move into the rankings.

At 140-pounds a request came in for #9 ranked Kevin Brown to either stay at #9 or to move up. Kevin Rooney made an argument for Dalton Smith (#3 WBC, WBO #13), who will headline the first Matchroom show in the UK next year, to get a top 15 ranking for Smith.

At lightweight a request was made to see Lukas Bhadi go into top 5 (he is currently ranked #8). At 130-pounds a request was made to have #3 ranked Sultan Zaurbek move up into the top spot. At 126-pounds Sarah Fina pushes for 13-0 Yan Santana from the Dominican Republic to move into the rankings. Jason Vincent made a strong argument on behalf of Sean Gibbons’ of Knucklehead Promotions for Michael Dasmarinas. Dasmarinas has a record of 36-3-2 (25) with his only loss in the last ten years being to Naoye Inoye.

At 122-pounds Kevin Rooney for Matchroom wanted some assurances on #1 ranked “MJ” Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan. As the mandatory, Rooney noted that he wants to fight Inoye next and wants clarity as to if that fight will be ordered. Rooney, while respectful of Inoye, noted that they wanted a clear answer and that it didn’t seem like Inoye wanted to fight the Uzbek. Rooney was promised a decision on that question tomorrow

At 118-pounds Nonito Donaire made a personal request to reenter the WBA world rankings.

After the rankings committee meeting, the WBA members were excused, although most took part at the “pool party” afterwards.

Tomorrow’s session will feature the medical advisory committee meeting, as well as the WBA championship committee meetings.

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