(SEPT 6) The second day of the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Convention began early with a trip to the world famous Karlsberg Brewery in Homburg, which hosted the day’s proceedings. At first, Ingo Barrabas, a renowned referee and judge as well as a member of the WBF Championship Committee, held the ring officials seminar, which dealt with the preparation officials are expected to undergo and their conduct requested prior to a championship fight. Barrabas also addressed the pressure exerted upon boxing officials and gave valuable tips on how to deal with it.

After a short break, WBF Medical Advisor Dr. Adam Balogh took over with his medical seminar. The topic was the pre-fight medical examination, something that is often looked at as a disturbance by boxers, trainers and managers alike. However, Dr. Balogh explained its full impact, informed how one can prepare for it so that the exam does not appear disturbing and which documents are required in great detail.

Upon hosting all delegates for a fantastic lunch, the Karlsberg Brewery offered a guided tour – including the odd free beer or two – before everyone returned to Viktor’s Residenz-Hotel Rodenhof for a well-deserved break.

At 17:00 sharp, everybody was in attendance for the official weigh-in at Schröder’s Restaurant in Saarbruecken for tomorrow’s huge WBF Championship Boxing Night. All eight fighters for the four title bouts scaled within their respective division’s limit, with a special focus on local hero Juergen Doberstein’s WBF Intercontinental super middleweight title defence against ex-WBF world champion William Gare (South Africa). Easily Doberstein’s biggest test so far.

Two female world title fights see Raja Amasheh (Germany) and Eva Voraberger (Austria) clashing for the WBF super flyweight crown in a real cracker of a fight, and Rola El Halabi (Germany) making a quick defence of her WBF light welterweight title she won barely a month ago against Sopio Putkaradze (Georgia). Finally, Bernard Donfack and Said Mbelwa meet for the WBF International light heavyweight belt.

Then WBF Vice President Jean Marcel Nartz conducted the public rules meeting, to which interested media were warmly invited. After the dinner at Schröder’s Restaurant, the convention group finally returned to the hotel and many delegates used the opportunity to crowd the hotel bar and the lobby for refreshing old friendships and forging new ones.