WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

September 26, 2011 – Mexico City. From WBC President Dr. José Sulaimán: The World Boxing Council expresses, with profound regret, the passing away of one of the best boxing commissioners that ever lived, Shigeru Kojima, who was the executive secretary of the Japan Boxing Commission for decades and a voting member of the Board of Governors for a quarter century. He never missed a WBC annual world convention until the day that he retired from boxing.

I held Mr. Kojima in the highest esteem, as did every one of the members of the WBC Board of Governors, especially years ago when my position, held for almost 36 years, was threatened by members of the NABF after the crisis created by the heavyweight world championship fight between Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas, who defeated him. Mr. Kojima was in the hospital after a serious surgery, but went directly to the airport in Narita, Japan, to attend and bring Asia’s fullest support to me.

The WBC is declaring three days of mourning for a man of integrity, total dedication to boxing, loyalty, perseverance in his struggle for the safety of the sport, and for having been such a decent and great friend.

The WBC extends its sympathy to Mr. Kojima’s family, to the Japan Boxing Commission, and to boxing in all Japan, hoping that allmighty God will bring prompt resignation to such a profound sorrow.

WBC CARES IN MAPUTO

The WBC, through its vice-president, Houcine Houichi (pictured third from right), and WBC Cares chairperson, Jill Diamond (second from right), presented crutches to children in need at the hospital in Maputo, Mozambique, Africa. The presentation included the presence and participation of African dignitaries, including Mr. Songstone Kashiba, the executive secretary of the African Council for Sports.

The needs of these children who are unable to walk created the commitment of the WBC to offer such a modest act of help.