EPIC WBO CONVENTION IN FLORIDA!

October 23rd, 2012 By Pedro Fernandez

WBO GET TOGETHER #25 AT HARK ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

Hollywood, FL- Few can remember that the WBO got it’s start when co-founder (the late) Pepe Cordero and a few Puerto Rican’s were essentially “disenfranchised” by the WBA, thus the conception of the World Boxing Organization in 1987. With this being the 25th WBO Convention, the “host” Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has been inundated with boxing officials from all over the world.

HBO GIVING THE WBO & PACO “LOVE” NOW!

They always used to refer to the World Boxing Organization as just another sanctioning body. That is not the case in 2012 as HBO’s Jim Lampley no longer tries to “dog” the WBO on the air. When Cordero died unexpectedly, San Juan attorney Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel took over as President. Truth be told, there is far less controversial scoring in WBO fights than those put forth by the WBC, WBA, the IBF or any other organization. Why is that? Because Valcarcel, if he has a judge or referee that is inept, the WBO won’t use them period!

ALL JUDGES SCORED RICHARD ABRIL-BRANDON RIOS ALL FOR ABRIL!

The first day of the get together concentrated on getting judging fights. That being said, the Richard Abril-Brandon Rios fight that rocked boxing fans and pundits with the equivalency of a 9.0 earthquake on the Reciter Scale, was to put it mildly, a scoring atrocity. So the WBO played the video and had the 100 or so judges in the room score the match. Not a single person gave the fight to Rios!

TAKING ASSN. OF BOXING COMMISSIONS JUDGING EXAM AGAIN!

On Wednesday, there a judging seminar and a conference for referees. Included in the judging seminar will be the Assn. of Boxing Commissions‘ test to work professional fights in the USA, a test I intend to take and pass again. So many other boxing writers in the world, and yet I’m the only one that takes and pass the Assn. of Boxing Commission testing examination. Judging is all about your knowledge of the fundamentals of the game and total, undivided attention.

RAN INTO REFEREE PAT RUSSELL TOO!

Having gotten out of bed late, I saw referee Pat Russell in the lobby on my way to the WBO registration desk and finally buried the hatchet related to me mucking up many years ago. The almost ten minute chat with Russell, a military veteran and boxing official that burst on the scene with his refereeing the debut of the HBO Boxing After Dark series with Marco Antonio Barrera and Kennedy McKinney in 1995, was one that I should have initiated years ago. My bad!

DISCUSS RADICAL CHANGES WITH PACO!

Before I leave Hollywood, FL, there is a scheduled pow-wow with myself and WBO President Valcarcel where I will present some ideas that might lead to some major changes. Then again, to steal a line from Stephen McKenzie Kupka, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That being said, I’m going to make my pitch to the WBO hierarchy on changes I think they could implement and greatly improve the sport and business of boxing.

WBO SANS DORIS WOULDN’T BE THE WBO!

Before I leave for a Mexican food-fiesta that the WBO is throwing downstairs, I want to thank Doris (Dorys) Companys, the WBO Executive Coordinator, for without “her being her,” the WBO might resemble an untied shoe!

Pedro Fernandez