PHOTOS: WBO GALA AND AWARDS NIGHT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Oct 2015
ORLANDO, FL -- The 28th WBO Annual Convention at the sprawling Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Hotel that started Monday ended here Thursday night on a high note with the well-attended Gala highlighted by the giving of major awards, fine dining, music and entertainment graced by current and previous boxing stars and important boxing personalities.
The Philippines' Donnie Nietes received his WBO super champion belt and fellow super champion Sergey Kovalev got the fighter of the year award while boxing's newest star Terrence Crawford got the most promising fighter of the year award.
WBO president Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel together with first vice-president John Duggan, championship committee chairman Luis Batista Salas and former president Dr Ramon Pina Acevedo were on hand to give the awards. Hall of fame announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr was superb as master of ceremonies.
WBO junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes receives his super champion belt.
WBO and unified champion Sergey Kovalev (3rd from left) of Russia receives the 'Fighter of the Year' award. To Kovalev's right is his manager Cathy Duva.
Newest toast of the town WBO junior welterweight champion Terrence Crawford of Omaha, Nebraska receives the 'Most Promising Fighter' award and also an award for his community service.
Fomer world champion Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico receives an award for his community service.
Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti receives the 'Promoter of the Year' award for Top Rank.
Frank Warren is the Europe promoter of the year.
Golden Globe awardee and boxing enthusiast Gina Rodriguez (C), daughter of retired referee and WBO executive committee member Gino Rodriguez (2nd from left) receives an award from the WBO.
L-R: Referees Russell Mora, Robert Hoyle, Tony Weeks, Kenny Bayless and Robert Byrd performed several jaw-dropping songs in front of the highly appreciative audience.
Philippine delegates (L-R, standing): GAB commissioner Aquil Tamano, judges Salven Lagumbay and Edward Ligas; (L-R, seated): GAB commissioner Fritz Gaston, Philboxing's Dong Secuya, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, super champion Donnie Nietes and ALA gym manager and matchmaker Edito Villamor.
Tanakorn Phitak and Pariyakorn Ratanasuban of Onesngchai Promotions of Thailand, WBO vice-president for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr, Martino Redona, Arcade Terrado, Fil-Am judge Jonny Davis and California/Texas judge Danny Gonzalez.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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