THE WBA CONGRATULATES 2007 / 2008 AWARD WINNERS

After a few years, the World Boxing Association (WBA) held again its traditional Annual Awards Dinner last week in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which was a complete success with over 300 persons in attendance at the Milk Producers’ (ATILRA) Directory Building.

Former WBA champ Juan Coggi, Sergio Palma, Juan reveco, Gustavo Ballas, and Mariano Carrera.

The likes of current WBA champions Firat Arslan, Andreas Kotelnik, Celestino Caballero and Suzy Kentikian and current WBO Omar Narvaez along with former champions such as Acelino Freitas, John Ruiz, Jorge Castro, Juan Coggi, Gustavo Ballas, Sergio Palma, Raul Balbi, Juan Carlos Reveco, Mariano Carrera, Marcelo Dominguez, Julio Pablo Chacón were present.

Also, important promoters, managers and matchmakers like Don King, Dietmar Poszwa (Universum Box Promotions), Chris Meyer (Sauerland Event), Osvaldo Rivero, Sampson Lewkowicz, Mario Margossian, Mario Arano, Tony Gonzalez, and Ricardo Rizzo were there.

The ceremony was hosted by Carlos Irusta and Sebastian Contursi who were in charge of introducing the awarded.

WBA Executive Vice-President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza was the opening speaker. Mr. Mendoza highlighted the longtime relationship between Argentinean boxing and the WBA since the times of Hall of Famer Juan Carlos Lectoure and former champions Carlos Monzón, Nicolino Locche, Víctor Galindez, Santos Laciar and others.

Argentina’s Boxing Federation President Osvaldo Bisbal offered some welcoming words to the attendees.

In order to distinguish the best personalities of 2007/2008 as they deserved the WBA asked Argentinean artist Constanza Palou to design an exclusive award that consisted in a bronze sculpture of which only 15 were made.

WBA Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto received the award for the “Best WBA Boxer”. As Miguel was in the middle of his training camp for his upcoming long-awaited fight against Antonio Margarito, the award was sent to him to Puerto Rico, from where he made a special video clip showed at the dinner where he thanked the WBA for the distinction.

2007 / 2008 WBA AWARDS

WBA Awards Dinner – Argentina 2008

Award’s designer Argentinean artist Constanza Palou	WBA Best matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz
WBA Best new generation boxing jounalists Claudio Coronel and Eduardo Bejuk	WBA Best Official Luis Pabon
WBA Best Promoter Universum Box Promotions	WBA Lifetime achievement Ricardo Rizzo
WBA Best female champion Susy Kentikian	WBA Best fight Acelino Freitas vs. Juan Diaz
WBA Best Latin New Generation Promoter Mario Margossian	WBA Promoter of the decade Don King
WBA Promoter of the Decade Osvaldo Rivero with some of his world champs	WBA Super Bantamweight champ Celestino Caballero receving an award
Best boxing web site in Spanish notifight.com	Great Latin Achievement John Ruiz
WBA Best boxing journalist Carlos Irusta	WBA Best New Generation Promoter Dietmar Poszwa
WBA Best prospect 2007-2008 Marcos Maidana	WBA Lifetime Achievement Jose Emilio Graglia
Argentina’s Boxing federation President Osvaldo Bisbal	Former WBA champ Juan Coggi, Sergio Palma, Juan reveco, Gustavo Ballas, and Mariano Carrera
WBA Awards Dinner hosts Carlos Irusta and Sebastian Contursi	WBA Best knockout Juan Carlos Reveco
WBA Executive VP Gilberto Jesus Mendoza speaking to the attendees	WBA Executive VP Gilberto Jesus Mendoza with ATILRA General Secretary Hector Ponce