WBC Gala Dinner with hors d’oeuvres awards

The World Boxing Council let its hair down for its Gala Dinner of delicious distinction, at WBC 60 Convention, in the vast and elegant Palacio Mundo Imperial Hotel in Acapulco.

The prizes kept coming thick and fast, so it wasn’t always easy to keep track during all the festivities. Among and amidst, Dean Lohuis, won the Committee chairman of the year.

Bismarck and Elenita Morales who have been married forty four years, won Couple of The Year.

Sebastian and Gabriela Fundora, together with Mourad Aliiev won medals as did Richard Schafer and Wife Lilia, also Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Marcos Villasana whose home State of Guerrero this is, and has been a marvelous host, was presented with an award. Patrick Cusick is Good Fella of the year. Marcos Arienti won an award for his work with Boxeo sin cadenas in Argentina. He is WBC Ambassador of the year.

Jill Diamond, Lilia Schaefer and Christiane Manzur. Each are lady of the year.

Lifetime Achievement Award Charlie Giles. Human Equality Charlie Hall. Commissioner of the year Domingo Matas. Confederation of the year the British Board of Boxing Control.

Committee member of the year Malte Muller. Workhorse of the year Oksana Semenishina. Most valuable player Kevin Noone.

Confederation of the year NABF. Woman of the year Enza Jacoponi, Dr Gerald Fineman Award Ricardo Monreal. Commission of the year Middle East.

Then lineups of the women and men boxers on stage.

Fascinatingly fabulous, to be sitting next to Bill Caplan who related some enthralling stories about Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack “Doc” Kearns, George Foreman, Cleveland Williams and Muhammad Ali’s scratched face in Zaire.

A magnificent treat. La crème de la crème, which was well worth skipping and missing dessert of the day, afternoon, night…or any other time!, for that matter!

Then…let the conga and the dancing begin!