NEWS ON: WBC Convention, Al Bernstein, Ivan Redkach

The general assembly meeting on Tuesday at the 51st annual World Boxing Council Convention was devoted to ratings, led by WBC Executive Director Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC Board of Governors.

The WBC Ratings Committee includes Chairman Frank Quill, Australia; Vice Chairman Claude Jackson, USA; Mauro Betti, Italy; Victor Cota, Mexico; Mikhail Denisov, Russia; Alberto Guerra, Panama; Nicolas Hidalgo, Venezuela; Dean Lohuis, USA (not in attendance); Ken Morita, Japan; Ed Pearson, Canada; Carlos Rodriguez, Argentina; Peter Stucki, Switzerland; Edward Thangarajah, Thailand; Daniel Van de Wiele, Belgium; Robert Yalen, USA (not in attendance); and secretary Luis Medina, Mexico.

The convention ratings will be published soon. Mandatory world title defenses will be addressed on Wednesday.

Many of the promoters, their associates, and other fighter representatives attending the convention participated in the ratings meeting, including Tom Loeffler, K2 Promotions; Raul Jaimes, Golden Boy Promotions; Sampson Lewkowicz, Sampson Boxing, who also represented Top Rank; Yvon Michel, GYM; Akihiko Honda, Teiken Promotions; Christian Cherchi, OPI 2000; Oswaldo Kuchle, Promociones del Pueblo; Gary Shaw, GSP; Andrew Wasilewski, KnockOut Promotions; Hagen Doering, Sauerland Event; Naris Singwangcha; Ricky Hatton, Hatton Promotions; Surachart Pisitwuttinan and Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, Nakornloung Promotion; Don Majeski; Joe Koizumi; Virat Vachiraratanawongse and Piyarat Vachiraratanawongse, Petchyindee Boxing Promotion; Christophe Tiozzo; Johnny Elorde; Mickey Elliott; Jesse Rodriguez; Shingo Suzuki; Philippe Fondu; Oleg Ladik and Roman Valesiuk, Elite Boxing Promotions; Vladimir Hrunov; Roland Jankelson; Malte Müller Michaelis; and others.

The ring officials seminars were held in the morning. The judges’ seminar was led by WBC Ring Officials Chairman Hubert Minn of Hawaii, and the referees’ seminar was led by WBC Ring Officials Co-Chairman Bruce McTavish of the Philippines.

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (October 25, 2013) – Boxing broadcaster extraordinaire Al Bernstein will be inducted into his third Hall of Fame this year on Saturday night, November 9th during the 9TH annual Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) Gala Induction Dinner in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.

The other CBHOF Class of 2013 inductees are former world title challengers Luigi “Kid Dynamite” Campurato and Israel “Pito” Cardona, promoter Joe DeGuardia, referee/amateur coach Johnny Callas and USA Boxing administrator Roland Roy.

The 2013 CBHOF award winners are Hartford's “Machine Gun” Mike Oliver, Professional Boxer of the Year; East Hartford Mykquan “Mad Mike” Williams, Amateur Boxer of the Year; Lou Pontacoloni, state Amateur Official of the Year; timekeeper Bill Maxeiner, William Hutt state Professional Official of the Year; former Hartford Courant sportswriter George Smith, Contribution to Boxing.

Bernstein, a native of Chicago, was the face of ESPN boxing from 1980 to 2003. ESPN is headquartered in Bristol (CT) and Al currently serves as a color analyst for Showtime Championship Boxing. Earlier this year, Bernstein was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the inaugural class of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

“I was delighted when Glenn (Feldman, CBHOF president) called to give me the good news,” Bernstein said from his Las Vegas home. “I really appreciate this for a variety of reasons. That time period (when he worked for ESPN) was really special for me because it established myself as a broadcaster and the voice of ESPN boxing. I identify closely with ESPN.

“Connecticut has had so many great shows, especially at the casinos there (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods). This is very gratifying. Being inducted into the same Hall of Fame as the great Willie Pep, and so many others in the sport, adds to the delight of this for me.”

Tickets for the 9th annual CBHOF Gala Induction Dinner, reasonably priced at $90.00, are on sale now by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (1.860.862.7377) or Sherman Cain at the Manchester Journal Inquirer (1.800.237.3606 X321). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET, cocktails at 6 p.m. ET, followed by dinner.

Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 9th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, or past CBHOF inductees.

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New York, NY (11/5/13) – Looking to make the transition from hot up-and-coming prospect to legitimate world title contender in 2014, fast-rising Ukrainian knockout artist Ivan Redkach (14-0, 12KO's) returns to action this Friday in St. Charles, MO, when he takes on Lowell Brownfield in an eight-round special attraction bout at the Ameristar Casino.

The WBC #17-rated Redkach, went a perfect 4-0, 3KO's, in 2012, with all three stoppages coming in the very first round. After witnessing one of his bouts in 2012, esteemed reporter Doug Fischer, of Ringtv.com, stated, “Ivan Redkach is a stud; best lightweight prospect with less than 20 bouts. I think he can beat most prospects with 20+ bouts.” Following his one-round destruction of Tebor Brosch at Roseland Ballroom on October 24, the highly regarded Mike Woods, who covers boxing for TheSweetScience.com and ESPN.com, proclaimed, “This kid scared me. He put bad thoughts into my head.” Having been featured on Dan Rafael's 2012 “Prospects to Watch” list, Redkach began 2013 right where he left off the previous year, scoring a devastating first-round stoppage over Sergio Rivera in February. In the aftermath of the Rivera bout, Redkach was forced to sit on the sidelines while he sorted out some issues with his team.

Now working with manager Larry Army, Redkach returned to action in September, but his bout against Antonio Sanchez was ruled a No Decision after both fighters suffered nasty cuts from an accidental clash of heads. Redkach is looking for an impressive performance again Brownfield and hopes to carry that momentum over into a breakout year in 2014.

The bout on Friday night is promoted by Rumble Time Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment.

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