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NEWS RELEASE – World Boxing Federation a.s.b.l. (WBF)

December 2, 2023

The World Boxing Federation has announced the creation of a regional European title which will pique the interest of boxers, and fans worldwide, as the new WBF Gaelic/Celtic Championships will be open to any boxer from a Gaelic or Celtic nation or heritage.

Of course, the six original Celtic nations are Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man, however Gaelic people also have roots in parts of Spain, Portugal, France and Nova Scotia. In any case, regardless of citizenship, Gaelic and Celtic parentage is the mark of eligibility for these titles, which are about to start by January 1, 2012.

Credit for the creation of these championships goes to new WBF Irish Republic Representative David Walshe, who reasons:

“The criteria to qualify for an Irish title restricts many non-Irish-based boxers the opportunity to fight for what is seen in their eyes as a very important title because of their Irish lineage. The WBF Gaelic Celtic Championships, however, includes hundreds of boxers all over the world and gives them a chance to box for an Irish-connected title.”

WBF European Coordinator Olaf Schroeder, backed with the support of WBF President Howard Goldberg and WBF Vice President Jean Marcel Nartz, is happy for the World Boxing Federation to fill this gap and be the leading sanctioning organization in this area.

“David (Walshe) and myself believe that our Gaelic/Celtic titles will soon become a serious challenger to the Commonwealth belts, because the quality of boxers eligible is of a much higher standard,” Schroeder said, “and thus provide a direct path to a shot at the WBF world title.”

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W.B.F. Names Alan Santana as Regional Representative to California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona

By Dan Hernandez

“Our immediate goal is to promote fights that are world class bouts and to have champions that will represent the W.B.F. well.”…..

Alan Santana

W.B.F. Regional Representative

Congratulations go to Alan Santana for being named the new World Boxing Federation Regional Representative for the Western United States. The W.B.F., established in 1988, is a force in the boxing industry and to hold one of its coveted belts is a powerful addition to any championship affair.

Alan, a friend, is well qualified as an expert in boxing, having fought, trained, and managed top-notch fighters. Santana has also aided in boxing promotions and worked ringside as a punch-by-punch analyst and on-air commentator. A stickler for seeing each task taken to a successful completion, Alan is enthusiastically and energetically approaching this new venture. He is encouraging a group effort of the promoters, managers, and of course, the fighters of these areas to contact him to enhance their productions by offering a W.B.F. title as its prize.

Santana was eager to meet for this interview and tell the world about the W.B.F. experience.

DH: Please explain the background of the W.B.F., your title, and the goals you share.

First of all Dan, thank you and I am very honored to be part of the World Boxing Federation. I did my homework on this organization before I decided if I would accept the position or appointment that was offered to me. My title is Regional Representative for the Western United States, which includes California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. The W.B.F. was founded in 1988 by Larry Carrier in Bristol, Tennessee, and is growing rapidly. After reading the presidents message (Howard Goldberg) for 2011 and the standard that he has set for the W.B.F., I felt comfortable moving forward. We do have the same goals in mind here and that is to promote the organization and make it stand out against all of the competition.

DH: What were your qualifications for this post?

My duties are as follows: To promote the W.B.F. with the same class, dignity and passion as I fought with, inside the ring back in the 1980’s as a professional boxer, under the name Alan “The Matinee Idol” Santana. I have spent most of my childhood and adult life in and around boxing. I had over 100 amateur fights, both with the AAU and USA Boxing, and was trained by the late, great, Fabela Chavez. I had won numerous titles with the AAU and USA sanctioned bouts here in California. In addition, being involved in the family paving business for over 30 years, and running my own business since I was 27, provides me the life experience and edge I need to succeed in my role as a representative for the W.B.F. I will be in charge of all title matches, world, state, etc.; appointing judges, referees, and supervising each event. I will work with the local boxing commissioner in the state that the event is being held and make certain that all the paper work is in order before the production takes place.

DH: What is the immediate goal of the W.B.F. in order to reach the ultimate goal?

The immediate goal is to provide fights that are excellent bouts and to have champions that will represent the W.B.F. well. One thing that I see in the sport of boxing today is that it seems to have lost its way with everything that is going on in today’s world. We have to compete with the MMA and we have lost a lot of our audience to the MMA. Years ago, you could ask almost anyone in the United States who was the heavyweight champion of the world, and 9 out of 10 people could tell you who he was. Today, I think that is totally the opposite; nine of 10 people don’t know who the champion is. The quality of fights that are being promoted by the other organizing are, I feel, sub standard and that is what the W.B.F. is trying to do, promote world-class fights. Fights that will make people want to come back for more, again, and again. The other thing that separates us from all the other organizations is that we use computerized rankings for our fighters and our title-holders. That is huge to me…It sets us apart from everyone else. If you want to succeed in any business you need to be different and stand out from everyone else, and that is what we are doing.

DH: How do you plan to coordinate your efforts?

To accomplish the goals that I have set for myself, I will need to surround myself with good quality people who also have knowledge of the game, and are business savvy. In this game, you need that in your corner or you will be knocked off your feet. I will build a solid group of officials and top promoters to make the W.B.F. a household name.

DH: How do promoters, referees, trainers, etc. get involved?

In order to be involved with the W.B.F. as an official, or a promoter, I will look for a few things, one is experience in boxing and the other qualities are honesty and integrity. It will not match-up unless all three ingredients prevail.

DH: Why the W.B.F. as opposed to the other organizations?

I feel there is room for the W.B.F. and the reason for another boxing organization currently is that we need to restore the sport back to its glory days, to bring back the stature of what a world champion should be and how that champion should carry themselves both inside and outside the ring. We also have championship titles for all weight classes and for women as well. Most boxing organizations do not even recognize the women of the ring, and here at the W.B.F. we do. Remember, kids look up to these athletes and the organizations that back them. The sport is sorely missing something today and we aim to get it back.

DH: What do you think of all the ABC Championships?

I feel that there are way too many titles or as you call them ABC titles. The existing organizations have lost all their luster with all of the pettiness that goes on between them. Many of the title fights that are staged and the fighters being displayed are not championship caliber. Back in the 1940’s and 50’s you could not even think of fighting for a world title if you had less than 50 fights under your belt. Guys like Ike Williams who had 180 bouts, and the likes of the great Sugar Ray Robinson, would not be able to fight for a title unless they were well prepared. We want to restore boxing back to the glory days of the 1940’s and 50’s.

DH: World Boxing Federation sounds like you are recognized and sanctioned worldwide, is that valid?

The W.B.F. is recognized around the world, however we have not reached every part of the world. We will accomplish that goal soon. The one thing that I really like about the W.B.F. is that we are truly worldwide, just take a look at our president and everyone else that is involved with the organization. We have people from all over the world working with us, not just in the USA. I feel that makes us a vary valid entity. Our champions also come from every part of the world, the USA, France, Mexico, Europe, Germany and many other countries. I feel the W.B.F. is here to stay and we will become a force with all of the promoters and fighters around the world. We will give all the other boxing organizations a run for their money. The W.B.F. is here to stay!

Source: BoxingRepublic

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