Newsletter EUBC by President Franco Falcinelli – May 2017

UBF President Volodymyr Prodyvus

Dear friends,

We are at the threshold of Europe’s greatest boxing event: from June 16th to the 24th, the European Boxing Championship will take place in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Boxing history in the Ukraine has long – standing roots – both when it was under

Eubc President Franco Falcinelli with Sergey Bubka, President of the Ukraine NOC and Honorary Member of the IOC

USSR and after it’s independence. The Ukraine has always been a source of great pride in the boxing community, giving birth to talent so noteworthy as to win prestige not only at the European level, but worldwide and Olympic as well.

Among it’s Champions, I would like to recall the brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, Oleksandr  Usyk, and Vasyl’ Lomacenko, all recognized worldwide as unquestionably remarkable athletes. Among distinguished managers from the Ukrainian Boxing Federation, I would name Boris Gaidamak  and more recently Volodymyr Prodivus, who was elected president of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation, a role which addresses responsibilities both within AIBA and EUBC.

I would also mention Dmitry Gaistruk, expert Competition Manager and member of the AIBA WSB Commission  The Ukraine has also brought into being excellent Referees and Judges  and highly qualified Coaches.

Certainly the well established popularity of boxing in a country where sports have always held an important social role and have given international acclaim, will give life to an exceptional event.

A welcoming hospitality and a comfortable stay are guaranteed by excellent hotels and the highest level of boxing facilities.

The European Boxing Championships assumes even greater importance in as much as it is the only qualification phase for the World Championships of 2017 which will take place at the end of August in Hamburg (Germany).

THE EUBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

In Kharkiv, during the European Boxing Championship, the rest day has been established for the EUBC Executive Commitee meeting. At this meeting, to  which have been invited  AIBA President  Dr. C.K. WU and the ED Mr. William Louise Marie, we will face various technical and organizational issues with reference to AIBA politics.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION AT ALL LEVELS

We are receiving positive feedback from the Presidents of  National  Boxing Federations in regards to the interviews sent to them by our EUBC Press Office. The questions are pertinent in creating a grassroots system of communication in order to better publicize boxing news. Boxing is officially practiced in 51 countries of the “old continent” and the spreading of news and other information that is of interest to the media is crucial for the development and growth of our national federations. I would like therefore to thank the NF Presidents and reiterate the request for further collaboration in this initiative.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANTHONY JOSHUA              

Eubc President Franco Falcinelli with Anthony Joshua

In the name of the EUBC and all boxing fans, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Anthony Joshua for his role as protagonist in the memorable match with Wladimir Klitschko, on April 29, 2017, in Wembley Arena, London. This match between Joshua and Klitschko gave credibility back to world boxing, finding interest in the 90,000 spectators that sparked worldwide media coverage. It was, in my opinion, the best match yet of the third millennium. I would like to highlight an important technical aspect: both boxers were Olympic Champions.

Eubc President Franco Falcinelli with Wladimir Klitschko

Klitschko won in Atlanta in 1996, while Joshua won in London in 2012. This confirms the fact that boxing at a high level can be reintroduced by use of the great protagonists of the Olympic Games, which is, after all, how it occurred in the past. This is why President WU’s project to open Olympic boxing to professionalism is so important and needs to be supported and publicized by means of professional promoters worldwide.

WORLD SERIES OF BOXING (WSB)

On February 3rd, the seventh edition of the AIBA World Series of Boxing began, with 4 European teams participating: Patriot Boxing Team, British Lionhearts, Italia Thunder and France Fighting Roosters.

RESULTS – QUARTER FINALS

20 MAY 2017

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan  4 – 1 Patriot Boxing

20 MAY 2017

British Lionhearts  3 – 2 France Fighting Roosters

19 MAY 2017

Colombia Heroicos  4- 1  Italia Thunder

13 MAY 2017

Italia Thunder  3 – 2  Colombia Heroicos

11 MAY 2017

Patriot Boxing Team 2- 3 Astana Arlans Kazakhstan

11 MAY  2017

France Fighting Roosters  3- 2 British Lionhearts