Tag: World Boxing Council

Report: WBC plans to introduce category for transgender boxers

Report: The WBC is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

The WBC reportedly is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told The Telegraph that the decision was made “because of safety and inclusion.”

Under the plan, boxers assigned different genders at birth would not be allowed to face one another in the ring.

“We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament,” Sulaiman told the newspaper.

“It is the time to do this, and we are doing this because of safety and inclusion. We have been the leaders in rules for women’s boxing … so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen because of what we are going to put in place.

“In boxing, a man fighting a woman must never be accepted regardless of gender change. There should be no gray area around this, and we want to go into it with transparency and the correct decisions.

“Woman to man or man to woman transgender change will never be allowed to fight a different gender by birth.”

Sulaiman emphasized the desire to be inclusive.

“We are creating a set of rules and structures so that transgender boxing can take place, as they fully deserve to if they want to box,” he said. “We do not yet know the numbers that there are out there, but we’re opening a universal registration in 2023, so that we can understand the boxers that are out there. And we’ll start from there.”

British Boxing Board of Control General Secretary Robert Smith told The Telegraph that his organization, which oversees boxing in the U.K., is in a discussion stage.

However, he seemed to say that the BBBofC would also base its policy on birth gender.

“At the moment this is hypothetical but we can see it coming and we are looking at our transgender policy,” Smith said.  “It is what you are born as, as rugby union does. When it does [happen] we intend to be fully prepared. Medical and, perhaps more importantly, legal considerations will have to be taken into account.”

Swimming has been at the center of discussions over how to include transgender women in competition.

FINA, which governs the sport internationally, requires transgender swimmers to have transitioned by the age of 12 to compete against those assigned female at birth.

Report: WBC plans to introduce category for transgender boxers

Report: The WBC is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

The WBC reportedly is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told The Telegraph that the decision was made “because of safety and inclusion.”

Under the plan, boxers assigned different genders at birth would not be allowed to face one another in the ring.

“We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament,” Sulaiman told the newspaper.

“It is the time to do this, and we are doing this because of safety and inclusion. We have been the leaders in rules for women’s boxing … so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen because of what we are going to put in place.

“In boxing, a man fighting a woman must never be accepted regardless of gender change. There should be no gray area around this, and we want to go into it with transparency and the correct decisions.

“Woman to man or man to woman transgender change will never be allowed to fight a different gender by birth.”

Sulaiman emphasized the desire to be inclusive.

“We are creating a set of rules and structures so that transgender boxing can take place, as they fully deserve to if they want to box,” he said. “We do not yet know the numbers that there are out there, but we’re opening a universal registration in 2023, so that we can understand the boxers that are out there. And we’ll start from there.”

British Boxing Board of Control General Secretary Robert Smith told The Telegraph that his organization, which oversees boxing in the U.K., is in a discussion stage.

However, he seemed to say that the BBBofC would also base its policy on birth gender.

“At the moment this is hypothetical but we can see it coming and we are looking at our transgender policy,” Smith said.  “It is what you are born as, as rugby union does. When it does [happen] we intend to be fully prepared. Medical and, perhaps more importantly, legal considerations will have to be taken into account.”

Swimming has been at the center of discussions over how to include transgender women in competition.

FINA, which governs the sport internationally, requires transgender swimmers to have transitioned by the age of 12 to compete against those assigned female at birth.

Canelo Alvarez back to courting Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith

Canelo Alvarez evidently has circled back to Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith in his search for an opponent.

Canelo Alvarez evidently has circled back to Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith in his search for an opponent.

DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Alvarez, are working on a fight between the Mexican superstar and one of the British super middleweight titleholders in November or December, BoxingScene.com has reported.

They haven’t settled on a specific date but, according to the website, they prefer November. The fight is expected to take place in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

Alvarez had agreed to fight Saunders on May 2 but that fight gave way to COVID-19 before contracts were signed. Alvarez then targeted Sept. 12 for his next fight but problems ensued.

One, offers were made to prospective opponents but none accepted. And, two, Alvarez and DAZN reportedly have been at odds over the amount of money he would be paid for the fight, expected to take place without spectators.

DAZN has ponied up $40 million licensing fees for Alvarez fights, from which the purses of Alvarez and his opponent have come. The streaming service reportedly offered about half that amount for Alvarez’s next fight, which apparently caused an impasse.

DAZN presumably is coming in with a higher figure for the renewed talks, which could lead to a deal.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) last fought on Nov. 2 of last year in Las Vegas, when he stopped Sergey Kovalev in 11 rounds to win a light heavyweight title.

Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round stoppage of Marcelo Coceres last Nov. 9 in Los Angeles. He holds the WBO 168-pound title.

Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) defeated John Ryder by a unanimous decision on Nov. 23 in Liverpool. He’s the WBA super middleweight champ. Alvarez stopped Rocky Fielding in three rounds in 2018 to win what the WBA calls its “regular” 168-pound title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

The WBC ordered a fight between Alvarez and No. 1 contender Avni Yildirim for its vacant super middleweight title. However, DAZN, with which Alvarez has a contract, refused to stream it.

[lawrence-related id=13024,12994,12984,12320]

Canelo Alvarez back to courting Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith

Canelo Alvarez evidently has circled back to Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith in his search for an opponent.

Canelo Alvarez evidently has circled back to Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith in his search for an opponent.

DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Alvarez, are working on a fight between the Mexican superstar and one of the British super middleweight titleholders in November or December, BoxingScene.com has reported.

They haven’t settled on a specific date but, according to the website, they prefer November. The fight is expected to take place in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

Alvarez had agreed to fight Saunders on May 2 but that fight gave way to COVID-19 before contracts were signed. Alvarez then targeted Sept. 12 for his next fight but problems ensued.

One, offers were made to prospective opponents but none accepted. And, two, Alvarez and DAZN reportedly have been at odds over the amount of money he would be paid for the fight, expected to take place without spectators.

DAZN has ponied up $40 million licensing fees for Alvarez fights, from which the purses of Alvarez and his opponent have come. The streaming service reportedly offered about half that amount for Alvarez’s next fight, which apparently caused an impasse.

DAZN presumably is coming in with a higher figure for the renewed talks, which could lead to a deal.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) last fought on Nov. 2 of last year in Las Vegas, when he stopped Sergey Kovalev in 11 rounds to win a light heavyweight title.

Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round stoppage of Marcelo Coceres last Nov. 9 in Los Angeles. He holds the WBO 168-pound title.

Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) defeated John Ryder by a unanimous decision on Nov. 23 in Liverpool. He’s the WBA super middleweight champ. Alvarez stopped Rocky Fielding in three rounds in 2018 to win what the WBA calls its “regular” 168-pound title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

The WBC ordered a fight between Alvarez and No. 1 contender Avni Yildirim for its vacant super middleweight title. However, DAZN, with which Alvarez has a contract, refused to stream it.

[lawrence-related id=13024,12994,12984,12320]

Report: DAZN not interested in Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim fight

The WBC has ordered a fight between Canelo Alvarez and Avni Yildirim for its vacant 168-pound title but DAZN doesn’t want to stream it.

DAZN evidently doesn’t like the sound of a Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim fight.

A day after the WBC ordered an Alvarez-Yildirim fight for its vacant 168-pound title, BoxingScene.com is reporting that the streaming service is not willing to pony up the funds to showcase that fight.

Alvarez has a long-term contract with DAZN.

Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) is ranked No. 1 by the sanctioning body but doesn’t have the following or reputation to stir interest as the “B” side to Alvarez. The Turk is a solid fighter but nowhere near the class of Alvarez. He was stopped in three rounds by Chris Eubank Jr. in 2017 and lost a technical decision to Anthony Dirrell in February.

Alvarez evidently still wants to wants to fight this year but will have to find an opponent with whom both he and DAZN are comfortable. He has courted a number of viable foes – including titleholder Callum Smith — but no deal has been struck.

Also, it’s not clear whether DAZN will pay Alvarez what he demands to step back into the ring amid the coronavirus pandemic. BoxingScene reported that DAZN has offered him roughly half of the $40 million he received for his fights against Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev.

Thus, Alvarez’s immediate fate remains uncertain.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) stopped Kovalev in 11 rounds to win a light heavyweight title last November, his most-recent fight.

The WBC title became vacant when then-beltholder David Benavidez failed to make weight before his 10th-round stoppage of Roamer Alexis Angulo this past Saturday. Yildirim was expected to face the winner of that fight for the belt.

Report: DAZN not interested in Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim fight

The WBC has ordered a fight between Canelo Alvarez and Avni Yildirim for its vacant 168-pound title but DAZN doesn’t want to stream it.

DAZN evidently doesn’t like the sound of a Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim fight.

A day after the WBC ordered an Alvarez-Yildirim fight for its vacant 168-pound title, BoxingScene.com is reporting that the streaming service is not willing to pony up the funds to showcase that fight.

Alvarez has a long-term contract with DAZN.

Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) is ranked No. 1 by the sanctioning body but doesn’t have the following or reputation to stir interest as the “B” side to Alvarez. The Turk is a solid fighter but nowhere near the class of Alvarez. He was stopped in three rounds by Chris Eubank Jr. in 2017 and lost a technical decision to Anthony Dirrell in February.

Alvarez evidently still wants to wants to fight this year but will have to find an opponent with whom both he and DAZN are comfortable. He has courted a number of viable foes – including titleholder Callum Smith — but no deal has been struck.

Also, it’s not clear whether DAZN will pay Alvarez what he demands to step back into the ring amid the coronavirus pandemic. BoxingScene reported that DAZN has offered him roughly half of the $40 million he received for his fights against Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev.

Thus, Alvarez’s immediate fate remains uncertain.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) stopped Kovalev in 11 rounds to win a light heavyweight title last November, his most-recent fight.

The WBC title became vacant when then-beltholder David Benavidez failed to make weight before his 10th-round stoppage of Roamer Alexis Angulo this past Saturday. Yildirim was expected to face the winner of that fight for the belt.

WBC orders fight between Canelo Alvarez, Avni Yildirim for 168-pound title

The WBC has ordered a match between Canelo Alvarez and No. 1-ranked Avni Yildirim for its vacant super middleweight title.

Canelo Alvarez might’ve found his next opponent.

The World Boxing Council Board of Governors voted 36-1 Tuesday to order a match between Alvarez and No. 1-ranked Avni Yildirim for the vacant WBC super middleweight title, the WBC tweeted.

No other details were provided. No date, no site, no information on whether the camps and the streaming platform DAZN like the idea.

“More details will be available in days to come,” was all the WBC said.

Alvarez, desperately seeking a viable opponent, might’ve caught a break when then-WBC titleholder David Benavidez lost his belt on the scale going into his fight with Roamer Alexis Angulo last Saturday.

That created a title vacancy. And Alvarez was among those who expressed interest in filling it.

An Alvarez-Yildirim fight isn’t as sexy as other possible matchups but it’s solid. Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) was set to fight the winner of the Benavidez-Angulo fight for the title before Benavidez failed to make weight.

The Turk’s only losses came against Chris Eubank Jr. in 2017 (KO 3) and Anthony Dirrell in February of last year (TD 10).

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO light heavyweight title this past November.

WBC orders fight between Canelo Alvarez, Avni Yildirim for 168-pound title

The WBC has ordered a match between Canelo Alvarez and No. 1-ranked Avni Yildirim for its vacant super middleweight title.

Canelo Alvarez might’ve found his next opponent.

The World Boxing Council Board of Governors voted 36-1 Tuesday to order a match between Alvarez and No. 1-ranked Avni Yildirim for the vacant WBC super middleweight title, the WBC tweeted.

No other details were provided. No date, no site, no information on whether the camps and the streaming platform DAZN like the idea.

“More details will be available in days to come,” was all the WBC said.

Alvarez, desperately seeking a viable opponent, might’ve caught a break when then-WBC titleholder David Benavidez lost his belt on the scale going into his fight with Roamer Alexis Angulo last Saturday.

That created a title vacancy. And Alvarez was among those who expressed interest in filling it.

An Alvarez-Yildirim fight isn’t as sexy as other possible matchups but it’s solid. Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) was set to fight the winner of the Benavidez-Angulo fight for the title before Benavidez failed to make weight.

The Turk’s only losses came against Chris Eubank Jr. in 2017 (KO 3) and Anthony Dirrell in February of last year (TD 10).

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO light heavyweight title this past November.

WBC, Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to resume random drug testing

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said that his organization, in conjunction with VADA, will soon resume random drug testing.

Cheaters beware.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told ESPN Deportes that his organization, in conjunction with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, will soon resume random drug testing as part of its Clean Boxing Program.

The WBC suspended testing on March 21 to protect those involved in the process during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are in communication with VADA, they are already organizing the corresponding protocols to start the tests for the Clean Boxing Program, we have made a lot of progress in the administrative work and very soon the surprise tests will start randomly,” Sulaiman said.

He went on: “We are ready. It is a matter of the laboratory confirming the areas where the tests can be carried out. It was suspended for care, health, and in order not to put laboratory collectors or boxers and their families at risk.

“It was illogical to think that during a pandemic, when everyone is forced to be at home, in many countries by law, a project that disobeys such liaisons will be considered or forced.”

Devin Haney: ‘I have learned a valuable lesson’

Devin Haney said he has ‘learned a valuable lesson’ as a result of his ‘white boy’ comment and the subsequent reaction.

Devin Haney, it appears, has grown as a person.

The unbeaten lightweight created a firestorm when he was asked during a YouTube Live session about the prospect of facing Ukrainian star Vasiliy Lomachenko and gave a response that he now regrets:

“I can tell you this: I will never lose to a white boy in my life,” said Haney, who is black. “I don’t care what nobody got to say. Listen, can’t no white boy beat me. I don’t care, on any day of the week. I fight a white boy like 10 times, I’m gonna beat him 10 times.”

A few days later he responded to criticism by saying “I’m not racist and I never will be a racist.” On Tuesday he took another, more humble step.

“Over the last couple days I’ve had time to reflect on a lot,” Haney said in a public statement. “I sincerely regret using a term that I have now learned to be derogatory to many of my fans, friends and associates.”

He went on: “I have learned a valuable lesson and I will continue to show the kind of person that I really am and will continue my quest for greatness inside and outside the ring.”

Lomachenko was scheduled to fight fellow titleholder Teofimo Lopez on May 30 but that fight was postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus.

Haney won the WBC 135-pound title by shutting out Alfredo Santiago in October but was declared “champion in recess” when he had to have shoulder surgery and couldn’t defend against No. 1 challenger Javier Fortuna.

The WBC then ordered Fortuna and Luke Campbell to fight for the vacant title but that fight never happened because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Haney petitioned the WBC to reinstate him as champion.

Lomachenko is the WBC’s “franchise champion.”