”FERNOMINAL” Fernando Schwartz presented Career Brilliance Award By World Boxing Council

Fernando Schwartz has covered ten Soccer World Cups, eleven Olympics and done the most wondrous interviews with the elite of sports superstars.

Last August 28th , he celebrated fifty years in journalism. At the beginning as a youngster it took skill but also nerve, initiative plus guts as a newcomer, to accomplish sporting journalism feats. Now all these years later, still the ability and the intelligence to look at every opportunity with a fresh approach and still fresh pair of eyes, reinforced with vintage experience, like the uncorking of a fine wine.

Still youthful, enthusiastic in mind and body, he is aiming for another thirty years in journalism. Every event and each interview holds a fascination for him. For them all he`s done his homework, gone over the questions in his mind, turns up punctually and has keen antennae to glean news, which will make headlines for his viewers, listeners and readers. The be all, the end all. Sports Journalistic nector!

The long and short of it is that Fernando is a journalists` journalist. The finest, most brilliant and most dedicated sports reporter, the length and breath of Mexico. And his nineteen year old son Andy is a chip off the block. A graduate of journalism School, he follows in Dad`s tradition, but is keen to carve out his own niche and destiny. It`s in the blood.

Fernando has won hosts of awards during his glittering career. But one which is so very precious and dear to his heart, was presented to him By World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, at the first Martes Cafe of the Year where, Fernando was lucky enough to find a tiny white doll in the Rosca de Reyes cake.

The event was packed to the rafters with journalists who cheered Fernando, our Hero and our Example. The Best of the Best for his dedication, passion, enthusiasm, professionalism and drive, which burns as brightly and keenly as ever. It was held in the magnificent setting of Sports and Chips. Fernando who is one of the patrons there, is instrumental in opening its doors and offering its facilities week in week out to the World Boxing Council. It is home from home for the WBC.

Very recently, Fernando led the Press Wolf Pack to the WBC`s sixty second Convention. Characteristically he went to each and every event and was in the front row of the Assembly daily. Perpetually seeking out the best interviews, with adept and the key timing of a maestro. The heart and soul of journalism. The epitome of professionalism, embodying its finest Green and Gold Standard.

Fernando mentioned the towering inspirations which have guided him on the road of an ace communicator. Don Jose Sulaiman, Mario Vazquez Rana, Guillermo Canedo De La Barcena and of course Jacobo Zabludovsky. Giants of Sport and media, who set the highest standards and the bar very high and who expected nothing less from journalists who were and are to be counted in the very select top echelon.

Some so special moments were the WBC Convention in South Africa, where Don Jose helped him to secure an historic interview with President Nelson Mandela, the interviews over the years with Muhammad Ali, Don King, Sugar Ray Leonard and so many more stars in other sports including the superstar Pele and Bobby Charlton. The great pride of covering Paris Olympics, marking the one hundredth anniversary of the Modern Olympic Games, and God willing more to come for him. Always the ambition and the flair to tell the story for his audience, using his diverse skills, half a century of experience and keenness to get to the heart of the story. The teller of fabled tales.

Holding his Award Plaque Fernando unusually on the other end of the microphone, but as always informative, generous and superb. He said: ”This award is very particular and so very special because it`s from Mauricio who is my brother. I knew him when he was a child, beside Don Jose. And this is amazing that the World Boxing Council, the most important in Boxing has given me this recognition.

”Don Jose gave me so many opportunities, but I recommend to all journalists, you have the opportunity and you are lucky to have that chance, but you need to treat it with care, so you can have success.”

So why is the work ethic and enthusiasm still there blooming and flourishing as fresh and bright as ever? Fernando doesn`t hesitate in saying: ”Because I love what I do, they pay me for what I do and for me it`s very important being in sports, at the great events and gaining the interviews with the most fascinating stars which our audience loves to enjoy. That…is the motivation for me every day…the next interview.”

Fernando is keen to cover more soccer World Cups and Olympic Games saying: ”I am sixty four and in fifteen days I`ll be sixty five. We have just been together at the Convention in Hamburg and I hope we have many more years working together, working here in the World Boxing Council.”