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kenyan_cheena · 01-28-2005, 03:17 AM

HBF ANNOUNCES REVISED RANKING SYSTEM
AND FORMATION OF
INTERNATIONAL "FEEDER LEAGUES"

Thursday 17 January 2002

Today, HBF President Michael Vincennes announced that the federation had made changes to the structure of the rankings system that will be introduced once their initial Championship tournaments have concluded in 2004.

Back on 12 December, Vincennes stated that the HBF would employ a system of rankings based on tiers of 16. Well, Vincennes has now revealed that the rankings structure will be based on tiers of 12. He also said that there will be no more than 180 fighters who will be "World Ranked" at any one time. So there will be fifteen tiers, each made up of twelve fighters.

But it was the second part of today's announcement that has the most immediate effect on the sport. Vincennes announced that the federation has established seven world-wide "Feeder Leagues" that new fighters will have to qualify from in order to become World Ranked.

The leagues are:

* The U.S. Atlantic Coast Boxing League
* The U.S. Pacific Coast Boxing League
* The Canadian Boxing League
* The South American Boxing League
* The Northern Europe Boxing League (most cards will be held in Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden)
* The Southern Europe Boxing League (most cards will be held in Italy, Germany, France and Austria)
* The South-East Asian Boxing League (most cards will be held in Japan, Australia and Thailand)

Initially, each league will be made up of twelve fighters. These twelve fighters will take part in a seven fight tournament, starting in February, with the winners of each tournament to be rewarded with a league trophy and also earning a bout against one of the lowest "World Ranked" fighters. If they are able to win this bout, they will become a world ranked fighter (placed within the 15th tier of the World Rankings), and their opponent will take their place in the feeder league (unless they choose to retire, of course). If they lose the bout, they will have to re-earn the right to challenge a world ranked opponent against other members of the feeder league.

With the current World Championship and 1st Defense tournaments featuring 192 boxers, and the seven feeder leagues another 84, the HBF will have a total of 276 fighters in competition.

Back on 12 December, Vincennes also announced details for a European Championship, a Continental Americas Championship and a New York State Championship. Today, Vincennes said that the federation has scrapped the planned New York State Championship, stating that the title really would not have had any relevancy.

"I don't want this sport to be full of meaningless titles," Vincennes said. "The Euro and American titles are fine. They will have a purpose, and I'm sure they will be sought-after Championships. Anyway, many of the fight cards for the Atlantic Coast league will be fought in New York, so I think that will be fair enough."

President Vincennes revealed that 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Lennox Lewis, who had been scheduled to take part in the NYS Championship, has been placed within the Canadian Boxing League.

"I offered Lennox a spot in the Atlantic league, but he was more than happy to take a place in Canada," said Vincennes. "He is happy with this because it will allow him to stay close to his family."

Additionally, Vincennes announced that the leagues will feature a number of "extremely talented prospects".

"There's a young man from New Orleans named Harry Wills," said Vincennes. "He came to our attention almost by accident when he attended an audition with a friend of his. Mister Wills is a tremendously talented boxer. He will be competiting in the Atlantic Coast league, so New Yorkers will get a chance to see his talent on show. I'm really looking forward to seeing him fight, I have to say."

President Vincennes continued, the excitement for the HBF's future evident in his voice.

"Some of you might remember last week when, after his bout against Buddy Baer in Japan, Elmer Ray "introduced" his cousin, Terone Haynes, saying that he was going to turn professional soon. Well, I can reveal today that Terone Haynes is a great talent, also. I don't want to give too much away about him, but let me just say that his physical strength is, in a word, "frightening". We have placed Terone Haynes in the Asian league in the hope that he will develop quite a following there. You all know that the Japanese are our biggest international fans, and I'm really excited about what Terone will be able to do in Asia."

As he prepared to leave the conference, President Vincennes was asked if he would be watching The Late Show with Dave Letterman tonight, on which the HBF's #3 seed for the World Championship Jack Johnson will be a guest.

Vincennes laughed and nodded. "I've got it written in my diary," he said. "I've been looking forward to it. I just know that, Jack being the way he is, he'll only help in bringing positive attention to the HBF."

01-28-2005, 03:17 AM	#51 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,310	HBF ANNOUNCES REVISED RANKING SYSTEM AND FORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL "FEEDER LEAGUES" Thursday 17 January 2002 Today, HBF President Michael Vincennes announced that the federation had made changes to the structure of the rankings system that will be introduced once their initial Championship tournaments have concluded in 2004. Back on 12 December, Vincennes stated that the HBF would employ a system of rankings based on tiers of 16. Well, Vincennes has now revealed that the rankings structure will be based on tiers of 12. He also said that there will be no more than 180 fighters who will be "World Ranked" at any one time. So there will be fifteen tiers, each made up of twelve fighters. But it was the second part of today's announcement that has the most immediate effect on the sport. Vincennes announced that the federation has established seven world-wide "Feeder Leagues" that new fighters will have to qualify from in order to become World Ranked. The leagues are: * The U.S. Atlantic Coast Boxing League * The U.S. Pacific Coast Boxing League * The Canadian Boxing League * The South American Boxing League * The Northern Europe Boxing League (most cards will be held in Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden) * The Southern Europe Boxing League (most cards will be held in Italy, Germany, France and Austria) * The South-East Asian Boxing League (most cards will be held in Japan, Australia and Thailand) Initially, each league will be made up of twelve fighters. These twelve fighters will take part in a seven fight tournament, starting in February, with the winners of each tournament to be rewarded with a league trophy and also earning a bout against one of the lowest "World Ranked" fighters. If they are able to win this bout, they will become a world ranked fighter (placed within the 15th tier of the World Rankings), and their opponent will take their place in the feeder league (unless they choose to retire, of course). If they lose the bout, they will have to re-earn the right to challenge a world ranked opponent against other members of the feeder league. With the current World Championship and 1st Defense tournaments featuring 192 boxers, and the seven feeder leagues another 84, the HBF will have a total of 276 fighters in competition. Back on 12 December, Vincennes also announced details for a European Championship, a Continental Americas Championship and a New York State Championship. Today, Vincennes said that the federation has scrapped the planned New York State Championship, stating that the title really would not have had any relevancy. "I don't want this sport to be full of meaningless titles," Vincennes said. "The Euro and American titles are fine. They will have a purpose, and I'm sure they will be sought-after Championships. Anyway, many of the fight cards for the Atlantic Coast league will be fought in New York, so I think that will be fair enough." President Vincennes revealed that 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Lennox Lewis, who had been scheduled to take part in the NYS Championship, has been placed within the Canadian Boxing League. "I offered Lennox a spot in the Atlantic league, but he was more than happy to take a place in Canada," said Vincennes. "He is happy with this because it will allow him to stay close to his family." Additionally, Vincennes announced that the leagues will feature a number of "extremely talented prospects". "There's a young man from New Orleans named Harry Wills," said Vincennes. "He came to our attention almost by accident when he attended an audition with a friend of his. Mister Wills is a tremendously talented boxer. He will be competiting in the Atlantic Coast league, so New Yorkers will get a chance to see his talent on show. I'm really looking forward to seeing him fight, I have to say." President Vincennes continued, the excitement for the HBF's future evident in his voice. "Some of you might remember last week when, after his bout against Buddy Baer in Japan, Elmer Ray "introduced" his cousin, Terone Haynes, saying that he was going to turn professional soon. Well, I can reveal today that Terone Haynes is a great talent, also. I don't want to give too much away about him, but let me just say that his physical strength is, in a word, "frightening". We have placed Terone Haynes in the Asian league in the hope that he will develop quite a following there. You all know that the Japanese are our biggest international fans, and I'm really excited about what Terone will be able to do in Asia." As he prepared to leave the conference, President Vincennes was asked if he would be watching The Late Show with Dave Letterman tonight, on which the HBF's #3 seed for the World Championship Jack Johnson will be a guest. Vincennes laughed and nodded. "I've got it written in my diary," he said. "I've been looking forward to it. I just know that, Jack being the way he is, he'll only help in bringing positive attention to the HBF." Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 04-29-2005 at 02:38 AM.