By Rey Danseco
 
World Boxing Council (WBC) president Jose Sulaiman is expected to arrive in the Philippines on Thursady (Wednesday in the U.S.) While the two Asian fighters arrived almost at the same time in Manila yesterday in their preparation for the huge convention and boxing event in Manila next week.

Sulaiman, who was supposed to arrive yesterday, will come from Mexico City to lead the foreign delegates at the 45th WBC Convention on Nov. 11-17 at Manila Hotel.

For the boxing event dubbed “Tapatan sa Maynila”, Korean light flyweight titlist Byung-Joo Lee came from Seoul while Thai lady fighter Lilly Rachaprachagym was from Bangkok.

Lee (8-3, 2 KOs) will be slated to challenge WBC No. 3 contender and reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar (43-10-7, 20 KOs, the 30-year old pride of Mati town in Davao Oriental and trains in Paranaque and Manila.

Sulaiman and Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila will grace the boxing event that will be held on November 12 – the same day the conclave officially opens. The venue will be at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

OPBF president Frank Quill of Australia, assured the Mexican official will award the championship belt to the winner in Rubillar-Lee mandatory bout. Lim will donate and award a golden trophy.

The 17-year old Rachaprachagym, on the other hand, will test the mettle of the newly crowned Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) minimumweight champ Gretchen “Chen Chen” Abaniel  (4-0, 2 KOs) in 8-round, non-title fight.           

Around 12 pm today, promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. host the press conference and press preview of the four fighters and the rest of the fighters in the undercard of the 78 total rounds show that split in nine fights.

Unbeaten World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific flyweight champion Drian “Little Espinosa” Francisco, who is ranked No. 6 in the world, and former national amateur standout Warlito Parreñas and Anthony Marcial are also expected to show at the press conference.

The Manila Sports Council (MASCO), under the new leadership of Nino dela Cruz, supports the boxing event that will be telecast by Viva Sports.

Elorde fetched the team of the two Asian fighters while Games and Amusement Board chairman Eric Buhain, who is vice president of OPBF, welcomed Sulaiman at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"Mr. Sulaiman will be an active participant in what we call a working conference and our activities start as soon as he sets foot at the airport," said Buhain.

Sulaiman and GAB officials will visit and donate to several charitable institutions in Manila, including the Philippine General Hospital, and Angeles City in Pampanga province, north of Manila. Sulaiman also pay a courtesy call to Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Malacanang Palace in Manila.

"The visits are part of the WBC Cares program that Mr. Sulaiman proudly supports,” ayon pa Buhain. "This convention will be a working conclave. We have set up activities as early as Nov. 8, although the actual start of the convention is on Nov. 11."
           
HERE IS THE Schedule of Activities of the WBC Convention:

*Schedule of activities may change

November 7 (Wednesday)
•               Arrival of President Sulaiman

November 8 (Thursday)
• Arrival of OPBF Officers

November 9 (Friday)
• OPBF Convention: Day 2
• Arrival of the Ratings Committee Members

November 10 (Saturday)
• Ratings Committee meeting: Day 1
• Arrival of the WBC Board of Governors
•              Courtesy Call to President GMA (depends on the availability of the President)
•              WBC Cares (Hospital Visitation: Ospital ng Maynila or Philippine General Hospital)
•              Arrival of the delegates who wish to attend the boxing match
•              Registration: Giving of Convention Kits
                    Registration Fee:  US$  120.00 / person - US$  150.00 / couple
November 11 (Sunday)
•              Arrival of Convention Delegates
8:00am       WBC Boxing Fight
•              Board of Governors Private meeting
6:00pm          Ratings Committee meeting: Day 2
• Cocktails to all delegates: Sponsored by the Games and Amusements Board

November 12 (Monday)
•               Opening ceremony
9:00am          Opening of the 45th WBC Convention
•                Presentation of flags with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Manila Mayor
                 Awards for: The President, The Mayor, Chairman Eric R. Buhain, Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Rudy Salud
•               Introduction of the WBC Board of Governors by the Executive Secretary
•               Introduction of World Champions by the Executive Secretary
                 WBC History Video Opening and welcoming remarks by the Mayor of Manila
•                Parade of flags carried by hostesses dressed in the traditional attire of the  countries of the President of the 9 Continental Federations
•               Opening of the 45th WBC Convention song, "We are the World", the WBC    adopted theme.
3:00pm         15-minutes Folkloric Show
•               LUNCHBREAK: Lunch for WBC Board of Governors and special guests
7:00pm          Workshops:
                             1.  Medical
                             2. Ratings
                             3. Legal
                             4. Financial
                             5. Merchandising
                             6. WBC Youth
                             7. WBC Female Boxing
                                  Championship
                             8. WBC Muay Thai
                             9. Ring Officials: Day 1
•              Welcome Gala Dinner for all delegates
 
November 13 (Tuesday)
• Convention proper
9:00am           LUNCHBREAK: Lunch for WBC Board
                       of Governors special guests
3:00pm        Committee Meetings:
                            1. Ring Officials: Day 2
                            2. African Boxing Union
                            3. Asian Boxing Council
                            4. British Board of Boxing Control
                            5. Cabofe/Fecarbox/Fesubox
                            6. CIS & Slovenian Boxing Bureau
                            7. European Boxing Union
                            8. North American Boxing
                                Federation
•              GAMING EXPOSITION (details to follow)
7:00pm        SPECIAL EVENT: BULLS STAG DERBY at the Araneta Coliseum
•              Dinner for WBC Board of Governors and specials guests

November 14 (Wednesday)
9:00am        Convention Proper / Meetings
Morning &            •  Mandatory Defenses
Afternoon            •   Ratings
•              LUNCHBREAK: Lunch for WBC Board of Governors and special guests
•              GAMING EXPOSITION (details to follow)
7:00pm         Dinner and show for all the delegates

November 15 (Thursday)
9:00am        Convention Proper / Meetings
• LUNCHBREAK: Lunch for WBC Board of Governors and special guests                
• GAMING EXPOSITION (details to follow)
7:00pm Official Closing of the 45th WBC CONVENTION and DINNER AWARDS NIGHT for all delegates

November 16 (Friday)
9:00am          Finalization of the whole convention
• LUNCHBREAK: Lunch for WBC Board of Governors and special guests
4:00pm          SPECIAL EVENT: WBC Cup Race at PRCI, Makati
•               Cocktails for WBC Board of Governors and special guests    

November 17 (Saturday)
•              Farewell to delegates