WBA RESOLVES WBA SUPERFLY TITLE VACANCY!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Jul 2008
Sampson Lewkowicz.
CEBU CITY--International matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, here for this Saturday's WBA-sanctioned tussle between AJ 'Bazooka' Banal and Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion, faced the media last night in a press conference hosted by the ALA Promotions at the Casino Espanol's Madrid Room.
Lewkowicz announced to the media that the WBA has made a resolution regarding the vacant regular WBA superflyweight title.
According to the respected international matchmaker, voted as 2008 Matchmaker of the Year by the WBA, the boxing body will sanction the July 26 Banal-Concepcion fight as an interim championship for the WBA, with the winner still recognized as a champion. In fact, officials who will do the bout are all appointed by the WBA, with the corresponding sanctioning requirements of the fight that of a world title event.
On the other hand, the September 15 showdown between the two top-rated Japanese fighters--Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono--will also be sanctioned by the WBA for the regular superflyweight championship.
Lewkowicz made special mention of Japan's leading promoter, the highly-regarded Akihiko Honda, who "fought for his boys."
According to the WBA, the winner of both contests would then meet before December 15, 2008 to determine the ABSOLUTE champion of the superflyweight division.
Lewkowicz (C) flanked by ALA Gym President Michael Aldeguer (L) and Concepcion's manager Damon de Berry, explains the WBA resolution regarding its super flyweight championships to the media last night at the Casino Espanol in Cebu City.
The WBA Championship Committee unanimously decided on the following:
1. Grant Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono as vacant superflyweight title bout September 15, 2008 in Yokohama, Japan thus respecting their leading available contender's status.
2. Apply special permit rule to allow Alex John Banal and Rafael Concepcion for the WBA interim championship title bout next July 26th, 2008 in Cebu Island, Philippines.
3. In the event both fights end in a draw, the two leading available contenders of the division at the moment will have the right to fight for the vacant title.
4. If the Nashiro vs Kono vacant title bout ends in a draw, but Banal vs Concepcion championship has a winner, he would be considered the regular champion but must fight in 120 days versus leading available contender of the division.
5. If the Banal vs Concepcion championship match ends in a draw but the Nashiro vs Kono vacant title bout has a winner, he would be appointed as regular champion and will have 9 months to defend against the official certified contender.
6. If bout championship bouts have winners, they shall box before December 15, 2008 to determine the ABSOLUTE champion of the superflyweight division.
7. In any case, a REMATCH of the above mentioned bout would be permitted.
The WBA, according to Lewkowicz, also cited that it is considering policies and strategies to design development plans and programs to enhance its presence in the region.
It noted that the last WBA bout ever sanctioned in the Philippines was the WBA bantamweight title bout between Luisito Espinosa and Israel Contreras on October 19, 1991 at the Araneta Coliseum.
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