WBC News For 11/4/04

From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:

       "Friday, November 5, is the deadline for Antonio Tarver to decide, as far as the WBC is concerned, if he's going to sign the contract for the mandatory defense against official challenger Paul Briggs, or leave the green and gold WBC championship belt.

       "There is a general concern and disappointment felt by the whole WBC Board of Governors, and many other boxing people, about Tarver's attitude. He became what he is because of the opportunities that were ruled and given to him by the WBC, and we cannot understand decisions like this. Neither can we understand how promoters and television companies do this, when everybody knew that the fight between Tarver and Briggs went to a purse offer openly during the general assembly of the last convention with all parties participating and accepting. This is like taking steps towards chaos and anarchy, as well as disrupting and interfering with the functions of an organization, especially a nonprofit organization.

       "Briggs won two elimination bouts ordered by the WBC. He's no rabbit pulled out of a hat, he earned his ranking and he earned his opportunity for the world title."

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WBC FIGHT-FACTS…

       WBC Fight-Facts are intended to provide some facts and interesting information related to a particular fight. They are sent to WBC supervisors, the promoters of the show, and local boxing commissions, and are published on the WBC web page at wbcboxing.com.

Hasim Rahman - Kali Meehan

WBC Heavyweight Elimination Fight

Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

November 13, 2004

       Hasim Rahman is one of the best of the heavyweights who made history by knocking out Lennox Lewis, one of the greatest champions of all time, with one devastating punch in South Africa. Hasim's tremendous punching power and experience have him placed in the number 2 position in the rankings, and he is planning to regain the green and gold belt next year.

       In the other corner, Kali Meehan beat the odds by performing brilliantly against champion Lamon Brewster. Even though he was a heavy underdog, many of those who watched the fight thought he beat Brewster.

       This fight is an official elimination fight in a WBC heavyweight tournament that has found great interest around the world, as five boxers are contending to find the next official mandatory challenger to WBC champion Vitaly Klitschko.

Hasim Rahman (US) Ranked No. 2

Date of birth: November 7, 1972

Place of birth: Baltimore, Maryland

Professional record: 39-5-1, 32 KOs

Guard: Orthodox

Height: 6'2''

Total rounds: 200

Championship fights: 4 (2-2-0)

Manager: Stan Hoffman

Promoter: Don King Productions

Kali Meehan (Australia) Ranked No. 5

Date of birth: March 9, 1970

Place of birth: Davenport, New Zealand

Professional record: 29-2-0, 23 KOs

Guard: Orthodox

Height: 6'5''

Total rounds: 128

Championship fights: 1 (0-1-0)

Manager: Ted Allen

WBC Heavyweight World Champions

1. Sonny Liston (US)

2. Muhammad Ali (US)

3. Joe Frazier (US)

4. George Foreman (US)

5. Muhammad Ali (US) *

6. Leon Spinks (US)

7. Ken Norton (US)

8. Larry Holmes (US)

9. Tim Witherspoon (US)

10. Pinklon Thomas (US)

11. Trevor Berbick (CAN)

12. Mike Tyson (US)

13. James Douglas (US)

14. Evander Holyfield (US)

15. Riddick Bowe (US)

16. Lennox Lewis (GB)

17. Oliver McCall (US)

18. Frank Bruno (GB)

19. Mike Tyson (US) *

20. Lennox Lewis (GB) *

21. Hasim Rahman (US)

22. Lennox Lewis (GB) *

23. Vitaly Klitschko (Ukraine)

(*Regained title)

Some of the most important WBC fights in New York state:

June 8, 1963      Emile Griffith - Luis Manuel Rodriguez - Dec. 15, New York, welterwts.

Oct. 21, 1965     Dick Tiger - Joey Giardello - Dec. 15, New York, middleweights.

Nov. 28, 1966    Carlos Ortiz - Gabriel Elorde - KO 14, New York, lightweights.

April 17, 1967    Nino Benvenuti - Emile Griffith - Dec. 15, New York, middleweights.

May 24, 1968     Bob Foster - Dick Tiger - TKO 4, New York, light heavyweights.

Dec. 3, 1970      Billy Backus - Jose Napoles - TKO 4, Syracuse, welterweights.

March 8, 1971    Joe Frazier - Muhammad Ali - Dec. 15, New York, heavyweights.

Sept.. 28, 1976  Muhammad Ali - Ken Norton - Dec. 15, New York, heavyweights.

July 8, 1979        Alexis Arguello - Rafael Limon - TKO 11, New York, super featherweights.

March 29, 1981  Ray Leonard - Larry Bonds - TKO 10, Syracuse, welterweights.

July 21, 1982      Salvador Sanchez - Azumah Nelson - TKO 15, New York, featherweights.

Dec. 12, 1986    Julio Cesar Chavez - Juan Laporte - Dec. 12, New York, super featherwts.

March 6, 1993    Pernell Whitaker - James McGirt - Dec. 12, New York, welterweights.

July 18, 1998      Roy Jones Jr. - Lou Del Valle - Dec. 12, New York, light heavyweights.

March 19, 1999  Lennox Lewis - Evander Holyfield - Draw 12, New York, heavyweight.

Sept. 29, 2001   Bernard Hopkins - Felix Trinidad - KO 12, New York, middleweights.