WBC Profiles: Oksana Semenishina

Oksana Semenishina is an impressive combination of brains plus strong character, and she`s fluent in the language of diplomacy, translating very well into the Family of the World Boxing Council, which now incorporates one hundred and seventy nations, so what led to this pathfinding  road of destiny?

1 You were born in Lithuania and studied international economic relations in Switzerland and Gemology in USA. What courses did you take and what did it teach you?

I finished high school in Lithuania and then went to study diplomacy. My plans were to become diplomat with the knowledge of foreign languages. Not many people can imagine how important diplomacy is in the boxing world. To swim between the interests of involved parties and to maintain fairness that really needs diplomatic skills. In the ring there is a real boxing, outside the ring is a real diplomacy.

2 How many languages do you speak?

I speak Spanish, English, Lithuanian. I Understand Polish.

3 How interesting, but also complex is it to be a highly trained translator?

Studying at the Institute we were even trained to be military translators. And I know how important it is to accurately convey the meaning of what the person says. After finishing at the Institute,  I never worked as a professional translator, just constantly facing the situations when somebody didn’t speak the language of the other person,  which led me to solve the situation. And as communication in boxing is the most important aspect, knowing foreign languages is of great benefit.

4 You have mentioned your initial connection with the WBC. Was this a WBC Convention? What year was it?

Yes, it was the WBC Convention in 2000. Since then I am working on different issues with the WBC.

5 At that time the President of the WBC was Don Jose Sulaiman. What is your opinion of his character?

Don Jose was a professional boxing grand chess master. A great leader whose soul and spirit leads the WBC every day. He was unbelievable person who had ability to see the situation on a completely different angle. What initially looked very complicated, Don Jose was managing so easily and in a way that nobody else could.

6 How did your work with the World Boxing Council develop. Part of it has been involved in marketing?

Since I first went to the WBC Convention in 2000, I started going to a lot of boxing shows. And while I was studying at the Institute and even after I got a masters degree and started my career, I was constantly involved part time in boxing activity.

7 You have been a Supervisor of more than 80 boxing matches. What does this involve?

Not all the fights where I was a supervisor are mentioned on Boxrec and taking into consideration that before becoming supervisor I was a co-supervisor the total number of fights should exceed 120. Being a supervisor means representing the organization and being the face of the international governing body at the fight when the WBC President doesn’t arrive. Those who watch the fight on TV and are just fans of boxing have the illusion that Supervisor is the one who awards the winner with the belt. But it is much more complex. Acquaintance with all the specifics of the precise country and its local commission work, perfect knowledge of the WBC rules, knowing every minor detail from  which a dispute can arise before, during and after the fight.

The work of supervisor starts months before the fight when the medical requirements as well the safety weigh-ins are required, and this becomes more intense when the preparation of the appointed ring officials starts. Boxers official weigh-in ceremony, rules meeting, gloves handling procedure, hand wrapping and much more precedes the fighters entering the ring. And all these steps constantly can lead to a conflict. The Supervisor guarantees that the fight will follow all the WBC rules.

If the fight looks like it will have no problems, it means that everyone involved did his/her job perfectly.

8 When did you become WBC International Secretary and when did you become a Governor and what are the tasks involved?

I became WBC International Secretary in 2017 becoming the youngest member of the WBC Board. As International Secretary I have a wide rage responsibilities covering everything  related to WBC issues in the big area from Eastern Europe to Asia. Doesn’t matter who you are – boxer, promoter, manager, commissioner – all the questions or issues, you can direct them to me.

9 What makes the World Boxing Council so fascinating as an organization?

The WBC is a history of professional boxing. It is not simply an organization, but a community of like-minded people who contribute for the benefit of professional boxing. People dedicate their lives to make boxing better and safer. There is no other world governing body that joins so many enthusiastic people.