2023 THE YEAR IN PICTURES

27 December, 2023

2023 THE YEAR IN PICTURES

DECEMBER

The World Boxing Council super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue knocked out Filipino Marlon Tapales in the tenth round, unifying the division.

Great boxing in Saudi Arabia “Reckoning Day”, at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, where These fights captured all the festive sports spotlights.

The acclaimed Mexican trainer, Edison Omar Reynoso Sandoval, received the 2023 National Sports Award in the coaching category, which lauds him as the most outstanding Trainer, thanks to his outstanding work as a trainer of great Mexican talents who have left their mark globally.

In Germany, Mexican Yésica Nery Plata achieved her third victory on foreign soil to retain her WBC light flyweight world championships by defeating German Sarah Bormann by split decision.

The WBC joins Juguetón, a campaign by Fundación Azteca of Grupo Salinas, directed by Mr. Jorge Garralda, in which Mexican society is called to unite by donating toys.

American Franchon Crews-Dezurn starred in a magical night when she returned to the top of boxing, defeating the previously undefeated Shadasia Green by a wide unanimous decision, to reconquer the vacant super middleweight belt of the World Boxing Council.

Devin Haney dominated Regis Prograis in his debut in the super lightweight division and took the WBC 140-pound championship from him. Haney, taller and faster, dictated the pace and range outboxing Prograis and consistently landed the crisper punches.

Hundreds of fans of Rocky and the actor who plays the popular Philadelphia boxer came to celebrate Rocky Day, with Sylvester Stallone himself.

Commemorating the International Day of People with Disabilities, a date that allows us to raise awareness and promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities, the WBC had a great meeting with SPECIAL OLYMPICS MEXICO, to recapitulate a year full of activities, love, camaraderie and achievement.

NOVEMBER

The WBC joins the campaign to raise awareness about prostate cancer with the “No Shave November” campaign.

David Benavidez, internal WBC super middleweight champion defended his title by defeating Demetrius Andrade.

The “Knockout Don’t Throw In The Towel” program implemented by RED VIRAL and the World Boxing Council was recognized at the Paris Peace Forum in its 2023 edition.

Katie Taylor defeated Chantelle Cameron in a great rematch fight in Dublin, Ireland.

Fighter Kevin Lerena won the WBC Interim Bridgerweight title by defeating Senad Gashi by decision.

Shakur Stevenson won the WBC lightweight title by defeating the Dominican Edwin De Los Santos at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Pope Francis, through a video conference, sent blessings for earthquake damaged Acapulco and for the organization’s annual convention in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Mexican Carlos “Príncipe” Cuadras, obtained the WBC interim super flyweight belt, by defeating his compatriot and also former world champion Pedro Guevara by split decision, at the Humo Arena Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The annual convention of the World Boxing Council held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was carried out with resounding success, giving us unforgettable moments.

OCTOBER

The Super Featherweight Champion of the World Boxing Council, the American O’Shaquie Foster, made the first defense of his crown by dramatically knocking out, in the 12th round, the brave Mexican Eduardo “Rocky” Hernández, at the Poliforum Benito Juárez in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The heavyweight champion of the World Boxing Council, the Englishman Tyson Fury, scored a narrow victory by split decision in a non title fight over the former MMA heavyweight champion, the Cameroonian Francis Ngannou, at the Boulevard Hall, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Legends of yesterday and future boxing stars were recognized by the Senate of the Republic in Mexico City.

Daniel Aceves Villagrán, Héctor and Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar made a courtesy visit to the General Secretary of National Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval González, who was notified that the institution was nominated for the 2023 National Sports Award in the field of promotion, protection and promotion of the practice of sports.

The start of the fifth edition of the amateur tournament of the Federal Protection Service was presented in the Auditorium of the Federal Police facilities in Mexico City.

Several members of the “Free Hakamada” movement, led by WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji, submitted a written request to the Tokyo High Prosecutor’s Office and asked the office to soon issue its acquittal for former professional boxer Iwao Hakamada. Innocent, he was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death for a quadruple murder case committed in 1966 in central Japan.

The undefeated Japanese southpaw and interim straw champion of the World Boxing Council, Yudai Shigeoka, scored an important victory over the champion, Thai Panya Pradabsri, to become the WBC 105-pound Champion.

Former world champion Rosendo Álvarez, WBC Cares ambassador, in joint work with the government of Nicaragua, donated medical supplies for low-income people.

The WBC joins the campaign to raise awareness in the global fight against breast cancer.

SEPTEMBER

Saúl Canelo Álvarez retained the undisputed super middleweight championship for the third time, by defeating Jermell Charlo by unanimous decision.

The WBC visited the Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas.

The WBC once again surprised the boxing world by launching a new campaign to promote Canelo vs. Charlo with a 90-second promo, on one of the largest screens in the world located in the World Trade Center in Mexico City.

AUGUST

Rocky Herron, who is an experienced DEA Agent, continues his great social work through his interesting talks, this time at the facilities of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), in Tlanepanlta, State of Mexico.

Former world champion Iran Barkley was honored with a mural in the Bronx, New York.

Mikey Garcia and WBC Cares visited DHR Children Hospital in Edinburg, Texas.

Held with the support of the WBC, Overtime’s 4-week OTX event, a successful series from Atlanta and which could be seen live on DAZN around the world.

JULY

American Terence Crawford knocked out his compatriot Errol Spence Jr. in the ninth round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, crowning himself the undisputed welterweight champion.

The “Green and Gold” exhibition was installed at the Futurama cultural center in Mexico City, where the history of boxing is told through images and objects.

The Carmona Boxing gym located in Azcapotzalco in Mexico City was inaugurated.

WBC World Flyweight Champion Marlen Esparza retained her title by defeating Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz. The fight took place at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Savannah Marshall became the new undisputed super middleweight world champion by defeating Franchon Crews-Dezurn by majority decision at the Manchester Arena in England.

JUNE

After a resounding success in Thailand with an historic Muay Thai event, another epic in Venice, Italy, where the WBC Amazing Muay Thai Festival was held with great success.

The first WBC Sonora “José Sulaimán” Race of Champions, where hundreds of runners participated, accompanied by boxing legends José Luis Castillo, “Alacrán” Berchelt, Francisco “Gallo” Estrada, among others.

Decent and renovated spaces for sports and the full development of girls, boys, young people and older adults are a priority for the Coyoacán mayor’s office, in Mexico City, which is why the Deportivo ‘Mujica’ gym was reopened with the name “ José Sulaimán Chagnon”, facilities that were reconditioned for the service of the community.

Regis Prograis retained his World Boxing Council super lightweight world belt, after winning by split decision over the Puerto Rican Danielito Zorrilla, at the Smoothie King Center, New Orleans.

The second edition of the Massive Boxing Class was held in the Zócalo of Mexico City, with the presence of more than 30 thousand people, who were led by great world boxing champions Julio “César” Chávez, Ana María “Guerrera” Torres, Erika “Dinamita” Cruz, Humberto “Chiquita” González, Jaime Munguía, Víctor Rabanales and David “Rey” Picasso, Dante Jardón, among others.

The World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tyson Fury visited the HDF Mercy Center orphanage in Bangkok, Thailand.

MAY

Great celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Arena Coliseo in Mexico City, with a more than spectacular atmosphere full of boxing and wrestling.

The World Boxing Council commemorated its sixtieth anniversary and the celebration welcomed guests from all around the world for lunch at the Arroyo Restaurant in Mexico City.

The Boxing Family gathered at the Ring Central Gymnasium in Iztapalapa to celebrate the achievements of the “Espiritu de Campeon-Spirit of a Champion” foundation, which was established by Great Alberto Reyes in 2016.

In what was a momentous week for women’s Britain’s Chantelle Cameron defeated Ireland’s Katie Taylor in a memorable fight in Dublin, Ireland.

Devin Haney retained his undisputed lightweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over Ukraine’s former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite the war conflicts, Ukrainian boxing returned to action, with a boxing evening at the underground train station, Zakhysnykiv Ukrainy, located specifically in the city of Kharkov, in the east of the country.

The President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar, inaugurated the “Arrayanes Guty Espadas Jr” gym, installed at the Arrayanes study center north of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez successfully defended his status as Undisputed World Champion of the super middleweight division, by defeating the tough, durable Brit John “El Gorila” Ryder by unanimous decision, at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

The fight between Canelo and Ryder was named “Fight for Peace” as part of the WBC program with BoxVal, an integral part of Scholas Occurentes, Pope Francis’ non-religious foundation, which encourages and promotes world peace, especially among young people.

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and his six brothers were recognized by Guinness Records for having fought on the same card.

The governor of Jalisco, Mexico, Enrique Alfaro, the head of the State Sports Promotion Council, Fernando Ortega Ramos and the President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán, paid tribute to 27 world champions that this state has produced.

APRIL

The Puebla-Jalisco belt that was contested between Canelo Álvarez and John Ryder was presented in Mexico City.

Polish Lukasz Rozanski won the Bridger title of the World Boxing Council, by knocking out the Croatian Alen Babic in the first round, on a card that took place at the G2A Arena in Rzeszow, Poland.

The Japanese southpaw Yudai Shigeoka (7-0, 5 KOs), defeated by knockout in the seventh round, the former Puerto Rican world champion Wilfredo “Bimbito” Méndez (18-3, 6 KOs), to win the interim straw title of the World Council of Boxing

The President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán, traveled to the prestigious Anáhuac University North Campus in Mexico City to present the need and importance of promoting daily professional and personal balance.

WBC light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji defended his crown in an entertaining fight by technically knocking out the American Anthony Olascuaga in the ninth round.

Brian ‘Bala’ Mendoza defeated Sebastián Fundora and won the title of interim super welterweight champion of the World Boxing Council at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

MARCH

Mauricio Sulaimán was awarded the EXATEC 2023 Merit Award for his career and social work. This was granted by THE Institute of Technology and Higher Studies of Monterrey.

Seniesa Estrada (24-0, 9 KOs) captured the WBC straw title with a dominant unanimous decision victory against “Tiny” Tina Rupprecht at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Mauricio Sulaimán and Erik Morales participated in the XV Youth Congress at the Pan American University in Mexico City.

Lennox Lewis, one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time, is a WBC ambassador and has a great dedication for amateur boxing, as all boxers start there. Lennox, who is also an Olympic gold medalist, dedicates his resources to supporting amateur boxing programs in Canada and Jamaica.

The World Boxing Council recognized Ignacio Beristain for his brilliant career.

He commemorated Women’s Day in the traditional weekly “Coffee Tuesday” conferences.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán attended the Sports Leaders Business Summit at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for an important discussion alongside former WBC champion and proud ambassador, Tony Bellow, and Frank Smith of Matchroom.

FEBRUARY

Former World Boxing Council welterweight champion, the great John H. Stracey, was awarded the Member of the British Empire Medal by Prince William, at Buckingham Palace.

Dr. Paul Wallace, who heads the World Boxing Council’s Medical Advisory Board, was recognized for his great work with the WBC Black Lives Matter belt.

The World Boxing Council visited the Neza Bordo Penitentiary Center as part of the “Ko Don’t Throw in the Towel” program.

The winners of the Mercosur 3 tournament held in Uruguay arrived in Mexico to continue their preparation.

Former two-division world champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack defeated champion Ilunga Makabu by technical knockout in the 12th round to win the World Boxing Council cruiserweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Three thousand 660 people gathered to participate in the largest mass Wai Kru class – Muay Thai – in the world in Thailand. This allowed the Guinness Record to be broken, with cadets from the country’s army, university students and volunteers.

The Amazing Muay Thai Festival was held in Thailand to promote the sport as part of the national heritage as it is a world-famous element of Thai culture. The President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán, was present.

The WBC was received at Government House in Bangkok by the Prime Minister of Thailand, His Excellency Prayuth Chan-O-Cha, to have a meeting and discuss strategies to grow MuayThai sporting and cultural activities in the Kingdom of Thailand and Worldwide.

O’Shaquie Foster defeated Mexican Rey Vargas by unanimous decision to win the World Boxing Council super featherweight title at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The WBC participated in the world premiere of the film Creed 3

WBC commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first African to win a world title, Battling Siki, at the New York Athletic Club

JANUARY

Yesica Nery Plata defeated the skilled Canadian Kim Clavel, becoming the World Boxing Council and WBA light flyweight champion.

Unified WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Arthiur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KO) defended his 100% knockout rate by knocking out Britain’s Anthony Yarde in 8 rounds at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London.