Memorable January for the WBC
The World Boxing Council reflected on a busy month of title fights, heralding a promising start to the boxing year.
The WBC celebrated their 61st anniversary this month. The governing body was founded on February 14, 1963, at exactly 1pm, in the Prado Alffer Hotel of Mexico City.
Mauricio Sulaiman also celebrated 10 years in his role, unanimously voted President in Mexico City on February 11, 2014.
The 54-year-old Mexican reflected on January’s month in boxing.
January 13, 2024: German Tina Rupprecht defeated Czech Fabiana Bytyqi in an intense fight, winning the WBC Átom title in Berlin, Germany.
– In Copenhagen, Denmark, Nigerian Elizabeth Oshoba won the WBC Silver featherweight title by defeating Italian Michela Braga.
– Light heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev retained his crown by knocking out former English world champion Callum “Mundo” Smith in the seventh round, at the Center Videotron, in Quebec, Canada.
January 16: A mass was celebrated in the Antigua Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, in honour of Don José Sulaimán, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death. Pope Francis sent his blessing to the Sulaimán family and the entire boxing community.
January 23: At the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan, light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji defeated tough Venezuelan Carlos Cañizales by majority decision.
January 27: In Cologne, Germany, a card was held with three WBC International titles in dispute. Branimir Malenica knocked out Ahmed Dananovic in the fifth round. In another fight Serhat Guler knocked out Branislav Malinovic in the first round; and Ermal Hadribeaj defeated Bohdan Shtonda by decision.
– With the WBC Americas Continental featherweight title at stake, Omar Trinidad knocked out José Pérez in the eighth round, in Los Angeles, California.
– The WBC super middleweight Silver champion, Jaime Munguía, obtained a resounding victory, knocking out the brave John “Gorilla” Ryder in the ninth round, in Phoenix, Arizona. The British boxer decided to hang up his gloves shortly after.
January 28: The President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán, met with important promoters in Las Vegas to collaborate with them for the benefit of boxing.