The Annual General Meeting of the Directors of the Commonwealth Boxing Council took place in London,England on November 21.
Below is a newsletter provided by the Commonwealth Council.
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Once again the glorious surroundings of Marlborough House, the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in Pall Mall, London, were the venue for the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Commonwealth Boxing Council Ltd.
On behalf of the President, Chairman and Directors of the Commonwealth Boxing Council our heartfelt thanks are extended to the Rt. Hon. Sir Donald McKinnon the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat and to Martin Niblett Sports Advisor of the Youth Affairs Division for permitting the use of such a beautiful venue and for making us so welcome.
The main items under consideration, and the decisions made, were as follows:-
NEW SUPER FLYWEIGHT DIVISION / WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
Although no final decision was made with regard to the introduction of a Super Flyweight Division (8st 3lbs / 115lbs / 52.16kg) or to introduce Women’s Championships all our member federations are asked to submit, where appropriate the names and records of any male boxers who would be suited to the new weight division and the names of any female boxers who have reached Championship class together with their boxing records. Further consideration will be given to the introduction of either or both of these new Championships.
VENUES FOR FUTURE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Trinidad and Tobago
The members have accepted an invitation from the President, Dr. Calvin Inalsingh of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control who wished to host the next meeting of the Commonwealth Boxing Council in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
In the immediate future there will be consultation between the President and the Hon. Secretary and as soon as possible a date will be confirmed.
Nigeria
Former President of the Commonwealth Boxing Council Prince Olaide Adeboye formally extended an invitation to the Directors of the Commonwealth Boxing Council to hold the 2010 Annual General Meeting in the city of Abuja as an opportunity for the Commonwealth Boxing Council to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the State of Nigeria. The invitation was accepted with thanks by Prince Adeboye’s fellow Directors and arrangements will be drawn up over the next 12 – 15 months for final confirmation. It is remembered that in 2004 the Directors of the Commonwealth Boxing Council were guests of the Ghana Boxing Authority in Accra, Ghana which hosted the Annual General Meeting of that year, as part of the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of our formation, with the visit being a huge success.
New Zealand
Following informal discussions prior to the meeting the New Zealand representatives, being the former President Douglas Carrick Belton and his colleague John Gillett, are both going to examine the possibility of holding the 2009 Annual General Meeting in New Zealand.
Since the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission hosted the 2001 Annual General Meeting in Nairobi, this being the first occasion in the then 47 year history of the Commonwealth Boxing Council that a meeting was held outside London, the Directors have been keen to hold meetings in countries other than Great Britain which affords an opportunity to local promoters, managers, boxers and officials to see first hand the work of the Commonwealth Boxing Council. The Commonwealth Boxing Council not only regulates the Commonwealth Championships in boxing, on historic prestigious and of the most respected Titles in the world, but also provides a forum for Commonwealth boxing matters for the betterment of the sport throughout its jurisdiction.
TITLES AT RISK
Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Francis and Lightweight Champion Amir Khan, both of England, and Jackson Asiku of Uganda, now based in Australia, must make Championship defences before the end of 2007 at the risk of their Titles being declared vacant. In all three cases arrangements have been made respectively against Michael Gbenga of Nigeria and Graham Earl of England, both on the 8th December 2007 in Bolton, England and against Osumanu Akaba of Ghana in Perth, Western Australia on the 16th December 2007 and it is hoped that all three matches will proceed to avoid the necessity of drastic action in these weight divisions.
Cruiserweight Champion Troy Ross of Canada, Middleweight Champion Darren Barker of England and Bantamweight Champion Tshifhiwa Munyai of South Africa all have strict defence requirements by the 30th June 2008 to ensure their continuing recognition as Commonwealth Champions.
VACANT TITLES
Super Middleweight
Promoter Michelle Minus advises that the proposed match between Jermain Mackay of the Bahamas and Charles Adamu of Ghana scheduled to take place in the Bahamas on the 1st December 2007 has had to be delayed to the 1st March 2008.
Flyweight
Following the drawn contest between Chris Edwards and Dale Robinson on the 13th April 2007, a contest nominated by the British Boxing Board of Control as one of its “Contest of the Year” for their Annual Awards Event held on the 19th November 2007, this Championship weight division has remained vacant with Dale Robinson having retired and Chris Edwards challenging for the British Super Flyweight Championship. Promoters and boxers around the Commonwealth and in particular South Africa, Australia and Uganda are urged to get negotiating to find a new Champion.
THE DENNIE MANCINI AWARD 2007
During the British Boxing Board of Control’s Annual Awards Dinner, held at the New Connaught Rooms in London on the evening of Monday, 19th November 2007 the President Dr. Calvin Inalsingh, the Chairman Eric Armit and Ms. Gina Mancini, niece of the late and much missed Commonwealth Boxing Council stalwart Dennie Mancini, were called to the stage to present the second Dennie Mancini Award, inaugurated in 2006, to Commonwealth Light Middleweight Champion Bradley Pryce of Wales. Bradley had gone through a difficult period in his career but caused a major upset when he took the Title from world ranked Ossie Duran of Ghana in March 2006. Since November 2006 when he defeated the difficult Andrew Facey of England he has subsequently made his mandatory defence against Thomas Awinbono of Ghana and then dramatically turned back the challenges of British prospects Anthony Small in July 2007 and Martin Concepcion in October 2007. The Award may be presented to the person (not necessarily a boxer) who has done the most to further the aims of Commonwealth boxing and Bradley was a well deserved winner being applauded by his illustrious stable mates World Champions Gavin Rees, Enzo Maccarinelli and Joe Calzaghe as well as the other Directors and delegates of the Commonwealth Boxing Council attending the British Boxing Board of Control’s event.
MR. STANLEY CHRISTODOULOU
The former and much respected administrator and for the last 30 years or so one of the leading Referees/Judges in the world, Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa, has been appointed as an Advisor to the Commonwealth Boxing Council.
Stanley has refereed some of the greatest contests in boxing history including Duran v Leonard in Canada in 1980 and McGuigan v Pedroza in London in 1985. As well as continuing with his refereeing and judging he is involved with TV Africa a new subscription channel which will seek to stimulate boxing in the African continent and which will feature Commonwealth Championships.
SANCTION FEES
With the increase in the cost of producing Championship Belts it will be necessary to increase the sanction fee for contests taking place after 1st January 2008 from GB £1,000 to GB £1,250.
With minimal or no costs for officials’ travel this is still a modest sum for such a prestigious Belt with such a long and glorious history but it is the wish of the Directors to keep these costs to a minimum to enable Promoters throughout the Commonwealth to promote our Championships.
SIMON BLOCK
Hon. Secretary
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