Oh What A Fight Night at the WBC Convention

Glorious Fight Night at the World Boxing Council’s sixty second Convention, at the Grand Elysee Hotel, saw a smattering of battering WBC Championships from atom all the way up to heavyweight.

The main fight of the night involved WBC super flyweight Champion Asley González successfully defending her title against Mary Romero.

More compact and harder hitting Asley pursued a longer armed, short haired opponent who was perpetually milling on the retreat.

When they did coincide, there were some fierce exchanges, but the sustained combinations came from Asley, who did did get caught with some hard, yet single, solitary  rights. Her work level, more precise, concise punches in bunches and pressure fighting forcing Mary into perpetual retreat, garnered a UD.

Heavy hitting southpaw Mourad Aliev retained his WBC International Silver heavyweight crown with a sixth round KO over Davide Brito. Physically more imposing, Mourad was connecting and often.

By round three, David had a nose bleed, and his mouth guard was knocked out, skidding from one side of the ring to the other. He tried to fight back sporadically, but in round six, he was trapped on the ropes and a big right dropped him. It was all over.

Serkay Comert won the WBC International Silver Title defeating Yassin Hermi by UD. By round three it had developed into an all out war, which was waged into the following round.

Serkay was often fighting off the ropes and landing frequently. Yassin’s face was swelling and in round six a flurry of punches dropped him and before round eight, the ring doctor had a long look at him. He fought bravely but was out punched, especially down the stretch.

Ermal Hadribeaj won a MD over Eddy Colnenares for the WBC International super welterweight belt. The lanky much taller Eddy who has an albatross like reach, was tentative for the first three rounds. He then burst into life and thereafter followed some lively exchanges.

Southpaw Ermal was constantly bobbling and weaving to avoid those ramrod long arms. He remained busier to gain the victory.

Benjamin Gavazi stopped Branimir Malencia in the tenth and final round, to win the WBC international Silver light heavyweight title. Ben was catching Bran with right hands and a variety of uppercuts. While Bran was trying to crowd him and do damage at toe to toe range. Two left right combinations to the head in round ten, convinced Bran’s corner to throw in the red towel at 1.41. So…a TKO.

Esneidy Rodriguez defeated Sana Hazuki by UD, for the WBC Silver Atomweight belt. The taller Suri tried to keep it at distance, but was relentlessly pursued by more compact and more powerful, plus grimly determined Esneidy who landed some stinging combinations plus uppercuts. Suri had some success with long straight rights, but paid a price when Esneidy negated the range.

Former world two time World Champion and survivor of cancer Billy Dib,  won a Farewell eight rounder at super lightweight against game, brave, but outclassed Atilla Kayabasi.

The Z’s, namely All time Greats Carlos Zarate and Alfonso Zamora walked “Billy The Kid” to the ring, accompanied by the dulcet tones of Frank Sinatra singing My…what else? Young Bridger Walker was on Round Card duty between rounds.

Billy gave us a virtuoso performance with every punch in the book reddening Atilla’s face. The gulf of experience and cascade of punches would have overcome a lesser man, by Atilla weathered it. Billy raised his hand moments before the bell to end the eighth and final round clanged.

In winning his final fight, The WBC’s Champion of Hope had achieved the impossible. He and Atilla hugged each other and WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman came into the ring to say: “It’s an extraordinary dream come true. We now welcome Billy to life outside the ring.”

Billy the brave. Billy the intrepid, who fought back against the bleakest most searing odds. Our tears of joy and admiration for a Hero, who always smiles, even in the darkest hour, before dawn.