Although it will depend on how the situation with the coronavirus pandemic continues to play out in the coming weeks, the president of the World Boxing Association (WBA), Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, is working hard to ensure that some boxing can return in May.
If “Gilbertico” Mendoza is concerned about anything, it is the delicate situation where boxers who do not have large contracts with promoters and need to continue fighting to financially survive - and because of that there is a real need for many of them to return to work.
"We are urging local promoters to hold events with athletes who are, as you say, in development, not so much those who are protected by promoters, but those who are climbing up in the ranks, to be part of local cards so at the very least they can have income," noted Mendoza to Notimex.
There are already talks for the first fortnight of May to be an evening in Medellín, Colombia, with the participation of Venezuelan boxers Gabriel Maestre and Yoel Finol. The event details will be defined in the coming days.
"We want boxing to be done behind closed doors for fighters on the rise or those who need work to survive, we are waiting for them to fight on those types of cards, so we are asking a local promoter and it will be done," Mendoza added.
Aware that there are some promoters at the international level who are already looking for options to do some events, Mendoza said that he is focused on the local scene and indicated that he wants to have boxing return to Medellín.
He made it clear that the pandemic that affects most countries around the world has had a strong negative impact, particularly on health and economics, but he believes sports will be vital to recover.
"I am very concerned about those who live in the informal economy, boxers who have this as additional income or who need to work to continue boxing, that target group worries me, but I think that sport is always an alternative and in the midst of a crisis it will be the door to emerge from this faster,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza said that he is analyzing the possibility of creating a fund to help people who need it, in addition to requesting the collaboration of boxers to donate memorabilia that could be auctioned off.
“I have been in contact with Acelino Freitas, who is going to auction off the belt that he won from Joel Casamayor in 2002 and with that he will help many families. It would be necessary to see what memorabilia the boxers are willing to donate, I will speak with (Wladimir) Klitschko, with 'Canelo' (Saúl Álvarez), and perhaps create a fund that helps others," Mendoza concluded.