Report and Photos: Boxing Bob Newman
The opening ceremonies of the 56th WBC convention in Kiev, Ukraine took place literally under “the big top,” a huge circus-like tent across the street from the Fairmont Grand Hotel. While the skies were bright blue, there was a slight chill in the air as it was only in the 50°F range.
As always, these gatherings are like family reunions, oftentimes old rivalries are forgotten. In fact, the most noteworthy one involved native son and now mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko and former WBC champ Lennox Lewis. There was nothing but love between the old foes- 15 years after the fact. In fact, Lewis, both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko and Evander Holyfield all took turns addressing fans and the media with comments about how happy there were to be in Kiev and being part of the WBC family. Family is why Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales sat next to each other, Roberto Duran and Marvelous Marvin Hagler exchanged greetings.
American boxing commentator James “Smitty” Smith hosted along with an excellent English-speaking Ukrainian male and female couple. Mayor Vitali Klitschko and WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman welcomed the gathering.
A youth chorus from Kiev sang the Ukrainian national anthem.
WBC Cares Jill Diamond took to the stage to welcome everyone including the WBC Cares family, which is planning their visit during this convention.
Newly minted WBC welterweight champ Shawn Porter addressed the audience on his dream of becoming a WBC champ. He had been at the WBC’s convention in Las Vegas a few years ago and felt out of place looking at all the WBC champs on stage for a photo op. He said to himself, “I want the green belt so I can be up there next time I’m at one of these conventions.” And so he was this time.
Wladimir Klitschko welcomed the crowd and told the oft heard story of the reason he never became WBC champ- because his brother Vitali already was and they had made a promise to their mother to never fight one another.
This was a perfect segue to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to bring up older brother Vitali, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, to strap the WBC green and gold championship belt around Wladimir’s waist.
After a brief moment of distraction of Wlad thanking the WBC for his long dreamed for belt, The stage was empty. Out from the left came Vitali donned in his sharp suit and boxing gloves. From the right came an equally attired Lennox Lewis. The two met face to face at mid-stage in a stare down. This was the rematch everyone had waited for and the one Vitali had craved!
Not really…but the two did review their fight from June of 2003, on the big screen behind them.
They poked fun at each other, noted the success of their own punches while minimizing that of the other, all in good fun.
President Sulaiman showed a video which traveled the evolution of the WBC belt over time, through the five stages. Sulaiman unveiled the newest version with the Ukrainian flag at the end of the WBC logo.
The WBC parade of its member confederation’s flags took place with an array of champions representing each confederation.
The Ukrainian Cultural Instrument Orchestra then took the stage to perform the unofficial WBC theme, “We Are The World.”
The WBC had been present when American president Donald Trump signed the long overdue presidential pardon of former heavyweight Jack Johnson. The WBC brought Johnson’s great-great niece Linda Haywood to this convention in Kiev. As a token of her appreciation, Haywood presented Mauricio Sulaiman with a copy of the presidential pardon signed by President Trump.
Following a gathering of champs on the stage, the 56th WBC convention in Kiev was officially opened by Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
After a lunch break back at the Fairmont Grand Hotel, a general assembly was held. All board members and delegates on hand were asked to introduce themselves,
Former NABF president Duane Ford delivered a talk on improving the WBC. It was steered toward ring officials in regards to preparedness and Ford’s pet peeve- social media. In Ford’s opinion, there is no place for a ref or judge to be sharing assignments or fight opinions on social media.
Legendary hall of fame boxing photographer Neil Leifer delivered a fascinating lecture and photo series on his career centering around his work with Muhammad Ali. From the age of 15 years until Ali’s death in 2016, Leifer shared a special relationship with “The Greatest,” and he told several stories of his interesting studio sessions with the champ and others.
At 7 p.m., it was back over to the Big Top tent for the opening gala banquet. Recognitions were given out to WBC members, ring officials, members of the boxing community as well as each Ukrainian champion, past or present, WBC or otherwise, who attended. Former champs Andreas Kotelnik, Volodomyr Sydorenko, Vyacheslav Senchenko, Viktor Postol, Serhiy Dzinziruk and Vitali Klitschko each received a WBC minibelt.
An amazing auction of signed boxing memorabilia was held, with the proceeds going to the children of war-torn Mariupol. One woman bid $20,000 for a Klitschko, Holyfield and Lewis-signed belt, then bid $55,000 for a Muhammad Ali- signed glove! All told, $197,000 was raised.
A recent popular trend at WBC conventions has been the recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records taking part in bestowing honors on all things WBC. Tonight, David Benavides was recognized as the youngest champion of the Super Middleweight division. Other honors went to unified Women’s welterweight champ Cecilia Braekhus, featherweight champ Jelena Mrdjenovich and the Klitschko brothers- all appearing in the 2019 edition.
Several cultural performances were enjoyed from Cassak dancers, to musicians playing traditional Ukranian instruments, putting a spin on contemporary music like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and an all-female dubbed “Freedom Jazz” pumping out jazzy, rag-time versions of well-known tunes and classic standards. All-in-all, an enjoyable, albeit, long night.
The ever popular ratings meetings will be held tomorrow, along with the WBC cares visit and a live fight show at the Palace of Sports.
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