Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, president of the World Boxing Association, dean of the world of boxing, installs its Centennial Convention on December 11 at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida, having as main topics the Mental Health of boxers, in addition to the reduction plan (unification) of world champions and its 100 years of history of the entity.

The meetings are scheduled to continue until Wednesday 14, with the active and usual participation of delegates coming from different countries of the world, for a complete exposition of the topics to be developed.  

Today is a good opportunity to make a small reference to the excellent role played by men such as Rodrigo Sanchez and Elias Cordova from Panama, among many others, and especially, by the Venezuelans Gilberto Mendoza Sr. and his son Gilberto Jesus, two great leaders who have managed the organization born as National Boxing Association (NBA) by the initiative of the representatives of 13 of the states of the North American Union and that since 1962 is known as World Boxing Association, WBA, driven by the high prestige gained by the millions of fans of the sport of fists around the world.

It is worth remembering that last year the WBA celebrated with joy its first 100 years of existence, counted since the staging of the fight for the world heavyweight belt between world champion Jack Dempsey and French contender Georges Carpentier on July 2, 1921, at Boyle’s Thrity Acres in Jersey City, which ended with an easy win in four rounds of the first before more than 90 thousand fans. 

Seven years ago, Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, WBA president since 2015, during the institution’s Annual Dinner, addressed an emotional and brief message to the members of the Executive Committee, which we reproduce below, a message that clearly defines the postulates by which the institution is governed. 

This message, abbreviated, reads: “In the WBA our policy is clear and simple: to recognize the talent, male or female, in the farthest corners of the universe, providing the alternative of individual growth and the path of social improvement, through a hierarchical, regulated, fair organizational system and the preservation of human rights, all this combined with the love and common interest of all of us. Let’s make boxing a universal sport, yes, but with a social conscience”.

This message, abbreviated, reads: “In the WBA our policy is clear and simple: to recognize the talent, male or female, in the farthest corners of the universe, providing the alternative of individual growth and the path of social improvement, through a hierarchical, regulated, fair organizational system and the preservation of human rights, all this combined with the love and common interest of all of us. Let’s make boxing a universal sport, yes, but with a social conscience”.

Such postulates have been of unalterable validity, they will be endorsed on this occasion by the conventioneers in the 4 days of intense and feverish activity that will take place in Orlando. Always with the fundamental focus on the best and most profitable conditions of life in the basic aspects of the human person, and of their security in the future, once retired, for the boxers.