IBF/USBA 25 Years Strong!
Annual convention in Hamburg was a huge success

June 2, 2008

After two and a half decades of holding its annual conventions in the Western Hemisphere, the IBF/USBA made a huge entrance into the Old World when it celebrated its silver anniversary in this beautiful German city. President Marian Muhammad came and left the country in ecstatic mood, calling this one of the best conventions she has ever presided over, and thanking all the constituents who travel thousands of miles to support the event each year.

“We are an international organization with members all over the world,” said Ms. Muhammad. “If the success of this convention is any indication, then it will definitely happen in more places around the globe more frequently.”

Seminars

During the week, a full day was dedicated to the Judges, Referees and Medical seminars. President Muhammad encouraged all the convention attendees to partake in these seminars, noting: “This is a good opportunity for all of you to work together to perfect your craft.”

The day began with the Judges Seminar lead by Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey and Arthur Ellensohn of Germany. Both men covered the basics of judging a fight and the scoring system, with the purpose of promoting uniformity in judging to avoid controversial results. Weisfeld stated: “As a judge, it’s not a good idea to pick out of a box. Don’t think, ‘this might be a good time to use my half point process system.’ Lets stick to what we’ve learned as a judge.” The two judges also selected a round from several fights throughout boxing history (even a Muhammad Ali fight) for the audience to judge, and later, all engaged in a discussion about the scores given the round at the convention and the scores given the round on the actual night of the fight. Several subtopics came out during these discussions, including a lengthy one about a “flash knockdown,” what it is and how to score it.

The Medical Seminar followed, presented by the well-known ringside physician and IBF Medical Advisor, Dr. William Lathan. Also on the panel were Dr. Paul Wallace of California and Dr. Bodo Eckman (Germany), Dr. Ulrike Lex (Germany), and Dr. Walter Wagner (Germany), who is also a cutman. All were encouraged to attend this seminar, but Ms. Muhammad particularly recommended the referees to attend as they are the closest to the fighters during a bout, and may have the opportunity to spot a medical problem with a fighter sooner than anyone else. The Doctors presented everything from medical testing requirements, protective gear, indicators that may signal a boxer has suffered a serious injury, to weight issues and how they affect a fighter’s performance.

The IBF President brought up the topic about fighters that in between fights gain a tremendous amount of weight far from the weight limits of the class they fight in. She questioned whether there should be some general rule, or guideline stipulating that a fighter’s weight must remain close to that of his fighting weight when in between fights. Dr. Lathan commented, “That is the worst travesty of the sport, that doesn’t get talked about. Professional models don’t gain weight in between jobs. A fighter should be the same way.” He added that all too often these fighters don’t have enough time to lose the weight properly and they come in to the fight weak and dehydrated. He agreed that this is a problem in the sport that needs serious attention.

The last seminar of the day, the referees seminar, was given by former NJ State Athletic Commissioner, Larry Hazzard, Sr. who had a notable career as a boxing referee before becoming commissioner. Early on in his presentation, Hazzard revealed, “In my twenty-two years as commissioner I never stopped being a referee. I refereed all the fights in my head.”

Hazzard had a boxing ring set up and used Eastern European Light Heavyweight Champion Robert Rolle and his brother (not a boxer) to demonstrate. Like the other presenters at the convention, Hazzard went through the basics of refereeing such as what a referee needs to do before a bout takes place, to the best place to stand or to move with the action of a bout. He recommended that referees not get caught up with performing for the cameras, but concentrate on the task at hand. At the end, Hazzard invited referees in the audience to share a complicated situation they faced while refereeing a fight and how it was resolved. The seminar attendees then commented on the situation, its resolution and other possible ways to resolve it. President Muhammad lauded Hazzard for his presentation later that evening at the Gala Banquet at which she hoped Hazzard would consider presenting the referees seminar again for the 2009 convention.

Gala Banquet

During the Annual Gala Banquet President Muhammad stated, “It has been a great pleasure to see everyone again and it has been particularly enjoyable to see those members and friends we do not see so regularly because of distance.” Aside from a large German and American constituencies, there were boxing representatives from China, Ghana, Panama, Mexico, South Africa, and Italy, to name a few.

Every year the IBF presents its champions with special awards at the Gala Banquet. On this night, Arthur Abraham, the IBF Middleweight Champion, was bestowed the “Jersey Joe Walcott Award,” the organization’s most prestigious award given to the outstanding boxer of the year. Abraham was most grateful for this honor, thanking the organization as well as his manager and his trainer. Abraham also received a championship ring for having defended his Middleweight Title on at least three occasions.

Also receiving a championship ring was Sven Ottke, who had been awarded this honor previously, but had not had the opportunity to attend the convention to receive it in person.

Other fighters being honored during the evening, but not present, were Ulises Solis for Most IBF Title Defenses; Giammario Grassellini for Most IBF Inter-Continental Title Defenses; and Fahsai Sakkreerin for Most IBF Pan-Pacific Title Defenses. The IBF Fight of the Year was Ulises Solis vs. Rodel Mayol.

As it is customary, the organization also gave awards to promoters. The Most Active IBF promoter and Promoter of the Year awards were given to Sauerland Events. The beautiful plaques were received by Wilfried Sauerland, who offered special thanks to IBF Inter-Continental President Benedetto Montella, for all his support. Universum Boxing, SES Boxing, K2 Promotions, Cotena Boxing and Kiat Kreerin Promotion were also honored and thanked for their support of the organization.

Other notables present at the Hamburg convention were Don King Production’s Al Bonnani; K2’s Tom Loeffler; Chris Meyer of Sauerland Event; Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports in South Africa; Porfirio Betegón of Universal Boxing Promotions in New York; IBF Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck; renown referees Eddie Cotton (New Jersey) and Robert Byrd (Nevada); judges Robert Hoyle (Nevada) and Adalaide Byrd (Nevada); Vaughn LaPrade (Virginia); and Lindsey Page (NJ) among others.

Next year’s convention has not been determined, but Panama City, Panama, is the frontrunner.

Source :  http://www.fightnews.com/ibfhamburg2.html