WBC congratulates Gustavo Olivieri, new WBO President

This Thursday, during the World Boxing Organization convention, which is taking place in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, Gustavo Olivieri was elected as its new president.

Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel, who was president for almost 30 years, withdrew his candidacy and asked for a vote by the organization’s legal advisor.

Valcárcel was elected president for the first time in December 1994. Under his presidency, the WBO had champions such as Oscar de la Hoya, Naseem Hamed, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel López, among others.

Since its founding in 1988 until 1990, the WBO was led by Dominican Ramón Piña Acevedo, then the position was held by Puerto Rican José “Chegui” Torres from 1990 to 1995.

Valcárcel assumed the position in 1996, until this Thursday, October 31, 2024, when he officially resigned, to make way for Gustavo Olivieri to take over.

The President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán, who was present at the meeting, commented: “Boxing is full of history and changes, boxers must train for a fight and give their best.

“”The dreams of all fighters are to win a world crown and that is where the performance and responsibility of the presidents of the organizations comes in. I am sure that Gustavo will play a great role. I personally know him and he is a loyal and decent person, so I am sure he will have a great management as President of the WBO.

“At the WBC you will always find friends and allies to continue our mission of making boxing a safer sport.”

The WBC congratulates Gustavo Olivieri and wishes him much success as President of the WBO, one of the main boxing organizations in the world.