By Boxing Bob Newman
The opening ceremony of the 64th annual WBC convention in Acapulco, Mexico got underway today at 1:00 p.m. p.m. in the convention center hall at the the host hotel Palacio Mundo imperial. As always, the ceremony was filled with all the pomp and circumstance that has come to be expected at a WBC convention, regardless in what country it takes place!
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman may have set a new record for brevity with his opening remarks as he welcomed the boxing world. He then turned the microphone over to Evelyn Salgado Pineda, the current governor of the state of Guerrero, in which Acapulco lies. Guerrero wholeheartedly welcomed the delegation to Acapulco. She was then presented with a golden golden champion’s jacket and trophy by current and future female hall of famers respectively, Jackie Nava and Katie Taylor.
A select group of past and present champions took to the lecterns and shared a bit of each of their respective stories in boxing, thanking the WBC along the way. Such champions as Erik Morales, Jackie Nava, Daniel Zaragoza, Tiara Brown, William Zepeda, O’Shaquie Foster and Lulu Juarez all shared their thoughts and appreciations with the audience.
A video roll call of all current WBC male and female champions was shown. A video was then shown, chronicling the journey in and contributions to boxing, of the late president Jose Sulaiman.
The traditional singing of the WBC’s adopted theme song, “We Are The World,” was performed by a local children’s choir.
The traditional flag ceremony, representing the member confederations of the WBC was then presented, each flag carried and displayed by a champion. Recently retired undisputed Champion. Katie Taylor carried at the WBC belt front and center.
At the close of the ceremony, all the champions present were asked to come up onto the stage for a group photo. In addition to the aforementioned champions, others on hand included old rivals Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez and Michael Carbajal, Jean Pascal, Lester Martinez, Marcos Villasana, Roberto Duran, Miguel Berchelt, Carlos Cuadras, Tomoki Kameda, and Mexican legend Rafael “Bazooka” Limon.
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