The World Boxing Association (WBA) Inaugural Ceremony for the 96th Annual Convention kicked off on October 30th in the evening after the first day of the convention was filled with a full schedule that involved important tasks such as a meeting of the regions and rankings movements.
International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Lennon Jr. was announcing for the introduction of President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza who welcomed everyone to Medellin.
Jimmy Lennon Jr. then introduced the WBA female champions to come on stage and receive recognition, as well as the Colombian WBA champions of the past.
Then ring champions and legends on hand were announced to receive recognition. This illustrious list included Chris Algieri, John Ruiz, Marcos Maidana, Ricardo Lopez, Roy Jones Jr, Juan Manuel Marquez, Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield, Bernard Hopkins, and Oscar De La Hoya.
The ceremony closed by honoring Kid Pambele Antonio Cervantes with a video tribute that got the entire place to its feet. Mendoza has already mentioned that the convention is aimed to honor the first-ever Colombian champion and the tribute given at the opening ceremony was really something that you could feel and was a befitting tribute for the Colombian legend.
