An Example of Constancy
A few years ago, while conversing about life we met
with Francisco Valcárcel, who we all endearingly
call “Paquito”. It was then when Paquito said to me,
almost unwittingly, “Listen up Carlos: life is a constant
negotiation and learning process. That is why “the sky
is the limit”, because you set out to do something and
know how to search for it, you will accomplish it”.
I must confess that at that the time when I heard that
phrase –a very special moment in my own life—it was
engraved forever in my heart not in my mind.
And this year, after long, patient and surely not easy
negotiations, Paquito was able to have the WBO finally
land in one of the most important markets in the world,
Japan, by its own merit.
Just as several years ago it was Paco who ventured
into China aware that the future was there, now the
Orient once again becomes the great route towards
the “Spices”, the North Star of goals accomplished by
Valcárcel.
It would not be fair to say now that the WBO should
have been recognized by Japan years ago, due to the
determination and commitment with which the
organization faces boxing. That belongs to the past,
and not worth dwelling upon when we have the future
to envision.
Future chronicles will state that it was officially
announced by Japan’s Boxing Commission at the Tokyo
Dome Hotel on a Monday, February 18, 2013 that they
would affiliate to the World Boxing Organization by
April 1st.
President Valcarcel was present at
the event with Luis Perez, Ratings
Committee Chairman, collaborator
and life-long friend, Leon Panoncillo,
Asia VP and President for Asia
Pacific, Asia Pacific Youth, Oriental
and International, and well known,
Felix “Tutico Zabala, All Star Boxing’s
prestigious president and promoter.
Also present at the event were
Yuko Hayashi, Commissioner for
the Boxing Commission in Japan,
Hiroshi Akiyama, Executive Director,
Ken Morita, General Secretary and
Official Committee Chairman,
Hideyuki Ohashi, Japan Pro Boxing
Association President and former
World Champion, as well japanese
champions, promoters, and trainers.
When the idea to write an article for
the congress to be held in beautiful Budapest, I confess
that I felt the urge to write a thankful statement to the
WBO and to Paco for all the help proffered, in myriad
of different ways, to Argentine boxing. It was Jorge
Molina, WBO Latin America VP and Latino President
who commented that although my gratefulness is
legitimate, it is not essential, for we all know what
Valcárcel has done for Argentine boxing.
And then I felt that to be grateful a memory is often
enough, and I remembered the phrase written at the
beginning of this article. We can say that Paquito
demonstrates once again, that in life everything is
possible, that the sky is the limit, and as Japan shows,
life is a continuous cooperation. The WBO will
continue to grow hand in hand with a man who firmly
grips the helm, and who knows that a job well done
and constancy in any endeavor are the instruments to
reach safe harbor.
By CARLOS IRUSTA
Director and editor of
“Ring Side” Magazine
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
WBO 26 Years • 67