WBO Convention Africa Report

WBO Africa Chairman Andrew Smale made his report at the ongoing WBO convention currently being held in Puerto Rico on the tremendous progress being made by that organization but bemoaned the problem of verifiable fighters' records coming out of the continent.

As reported in Fightnews.com:

Following Mr. Panoncillo’s report, Vice President Andrew Smale gave his report on WBO boxing. Once again Mr. Smale showed why he is quickly establishing himself as one of the WBO’s most valuable commodities, with further grown in the continent and what is looking very close to absolute WBO dominance of the boxing scene in Africa. Smale was proud to announce eighteen title fights in 2010. And so far in 2011, he has presided over seventeen with five future dates confirmed. It is rapidly expanding each year, and despite the difficulties promoters in Africa face, the WBO’s commitment to boxing in Africa is clearly paying huge dividends. Smale also commented in the increasing strength of boxing in Ghana, and the impressive nature of the numbers when compared with some of the rival organizations. The ABU (associated with the WBC) had only one fight in 2011, as did the WBC Intercontinental. The IBF Africa Championship has yet to do a fight in 2011. Smale closed by announcing that the WBO collected $21,400 in Africa so far this year, and he is optimistic that at least two African regional champions may get title fights in the coming year.

For the full Fightnews report, (click here).