By Boxing Bob Newman
Kiev, Ukraine is at the epicenter of the boxing world as champs and delegates alike descend on the capital city which is playing host to the 56th annual WBC convention.
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While the WBC board has been here for a few days, conducting private meetings and ironing out last second convention details, many guests arrived over the weekend at the luxurious host venue Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv.
Tonight’s kickoff event was a cocktail party which many past and present champs attended. On hand were, among others- Humberto “Chicquita” Gonzalez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Viktor Postol, Sergio Martinez, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, Brahim Asloum, Adonis Stevenson, Lennox Lewis, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, John H. Stracey, Jelena Mrdjenovich, Raja Amasheh, Christina Hammer, Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield, Carlos Zarate and Wladimir Klitschko.
Wladimir Klitschko welcomed everyone to the 1500-year-old Ukrainian capital city on behalf of his brother, Mayor Vitaly Klitschko who was to arrive later and will certainly kickoff the official opening ceremony Monday morning. In addition to the usual WBC convention business of meetings and resolutions, a full slate of events will pack the week including a live fight card, a visit to the Klitschko brothers museum, city tour, WBC Cares visit, Ukrainian Boxing hall of fame visit, Neil Leifer lecture, autograph session at Gulliver shopping mall and more.
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