[kenyan_cheena]

OPENING NIGHT:
INTERNATIONAL BOXING LEAGUE
INTRODUCED TO THE WORLD AT MGM BASH

Monday 22 July 2002

The International Boxing League officially "introduced" itself to the world tonight during a lavish dinner held at James Molk's MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. The event was broadcast live on cable network HBO and to say that the show the IBL put on was "impressive" would be a considerable understatement. It was thought that this would be an exciting evening, but nothing said beforehand could have prepared those in attendance for what they were treated to. Putting aside the main reason for the evening, the 600-strong crowd were warmed up by funnyman Billy Crystal before enjoying a quartet of songs from Nelly and the members of Destiny's Child during the evening's interlude and then being witness to a spectacular thirty minute performance by Prince as a grand finale. If this was a sign of what fans can expect from the league once their competitions start, we've all got a lot to look forward to.

While they enjoyed their entrees, New Yorker Crystal had the audience in stitches for twenty minutes before handing over to the IBL's Chief Director and driving force behind the league's formation, James Molk. Making his way to the stage dressed in a tuxedo, Molk shook Crystal's hand before addressing the audience.

"Thank you, Billy," said Molk, smiling. "I don't think we could have asked for a better start to what will be a special night. Ladies and gentlemen, good evening and welcome to the MGM Grand Casino. No doubt, this is an event that we've all been looking forward to during the past weeks and now that we've arrived, I almost have to pinch myself when I think of all we've achieved in these four short months. I want to thank all the staff of the International Boxing League for the tremendous efforts they've made, efforts that have allowed us to put together this great event with a minimum of difficulty."

Molk paused and, almost as if on queue, the audience applauded in agreement with his words.

"I also want to thank all the young men who attended our trials and made them more successful than we could have ever dreamed of," Molk continued. "I want to thank their families also, for putting in the time and effort to help make their attendance possible. The Heavyweight Boxing Federation has already proven in little more than six months that this sport of ours has a truly international appeal. It's something that we plan to build on and in co-operation with the HBF I really believe we can make it the premier sport around the globe. So thank you to all of you who have strived to find a place in our organisation. Many of you are here in the house and I trust that you'll enjoy tonight's show."

Once more, the audience applauded, some of them shouting their approval to which Molk smiled.

"Well, we have a lot to get through tonight," said Molk. "So without further ado, I think we should kick this baby off. As you all know, the main purpose of tonight is to announce the competitors in our regional World Championship qualifiers and Future Contender series, aswell as revealing the opening matchups in these tournaments. During the first part of the night we'll go through the makeup of each weight division, starting with Featherweight and progressing through to the Light-Heavyweight division. Unlike the HBF, the International Boxing League will not be seeding any of our fighters during the tournaments. The scheduling of all tournament bouts will be determined using a lottery system. We believe this will add greatly to the excitement of our league and lead to a number of possible enticing matchups early during the tournaments. Just to let everyone know, main course meals will be served following this presentation. It gives me great pleasure to reveal the competitors for the IBL's Featherweight division."

The lights dimmed and the huge theater screen behind Molk came to life. It displayed, with an accompanying pre-recorded narration, the entrants in the Featherweight division...

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION

REGIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION GROUPS

* REGION: SOUTH AMERICA

DANIEL BLANCO, COLOMBIA
RICARDO CARDONA, COLOMBIA
ANTONIO ESPARRAGOZA, VENEZUELA
RICARDO GONZALEZ, ARGENTINA
ANTONIO HERRERA, COLOMBIA
VICTOR LEON, VENEZUELA
CRUZ MARCANO, VENEZUELA
ERNESTO MARCEL, PANAMA
RAFAEL ORTEGA, PANAMA
RUBEN PALACIOS, COLOMBIA
SERGIO PALMA, ARGENTINA
EUSEBIO PEDROZA, PANAMA

* REGION: MEXICO

RAUL CRUZ, MEXICO
JUAN ESTRADA, MEXICO
JUAN ANTONIO LOPEZ, MEXICO
JUAN MEZA, MEXICO
RICARDO MORENO, MEXICO
FILI NAVA, MEXICO
RUBEN OLIVARES, MEXICO
RAMON PEREZ, MEXICO
VICENTE SALDIVAR, MEXICO
CLEMENTE SANCHEZ, MEXICO
SALVADOR SANCHEZ, MEXICO
DANIEL ZARAGOZA, MEXICO

* REGION: USA/CANADA

GEORGE DIXON, CANADA
DAVID DONALD, CANADA
ART HAFEY, CANADA
KEVIN KELLEY, USA (FLUSHING, NY)
JOHNNY KILBANE, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)
MAURICE LINCOLN, CANADA
TERRY MCGOVERN, USA (JOHNSTOWN, PA)
KENNEDY MCKINNEY, USA (LAS VEGAS, NV)
FREDDIE MILLER, USA (CINCINNATI, OH)
KEITH NANCE, CANADA
WILLIE PEP, USA (HARTFORD, CT)
SOLLY SMITH, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)

* REGION: CARIBBEAN

FERNANDO BATISTA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MIGUEL BERRIOS, PUERTO RICO
ROBERT BROWN, JAMAICA
TYRONE BURTON, JAMAICA
VICTOR CALLEJAS, PUERTO RICO
LEO CRUZ, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
NESLEY HAVEN, BAHAMAS
JUAN LAPORTE, PUERTO RICO
JOSE LEGRA, CUBA
ELIGIO MONTALVO, CUBA
CIRO MORASEN, CUBA
ANTONIO RIVERA, PUERTO RICO

* REGION: EUROPE/AFRICA

HOGAN BASSEY, NIGERIA
EUGENE CRIQUI, FRANCE
RUDEL DIETRICH, GERMANY
JIM DRISCOLL, WALES
NASEEM HAMED, ENGLAND
RAFIU KING, NIGERIA
DAVEY KOTEY, GHANA
BARRY MCGUIGAN, IRELAND
WELCOME NCITA, SOUTH AFRICA
SHAUN SMITH, SOUTH AFRICA
LORIS STECCA, ITALY
NEL TARLETON, ENGLAND

* REGION: ASIA/OCEANIA

JOHNNY FAMECHON, AUSTRALIA
JEFF FENECH, AUSTRALIA
ALBERT GRIFFITHS, AUSTRALIA
SOO-HWAN HONG, KOREA
JOHNNY JAMITO, PHILIPPINES
KAZUO KOBAYASHI, JAPAN
SEUNG-HOON LEE, KOREA
SAMART PAYAKAROON, THAILAND
MITSUNORI SEKI, JAPAN
KAZUO TAKAYAMA, JAPAN
GENARIO TORRES, PHILIPPINES
DONG-KYUN YUM, KOREA

FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES

* GROUP ONE

RAY FAMECHON, FRANCE
LUIZ FEOLA, BRAZIL
ALBERTO MARTINEZ, CUBA
CARLOS MENDOZA, PANAMA
RICARDO MORALES, MEXICO
STEPHEN MORRIS, AUSTRALIA
CARMELO NEGRON, PUERTO RICO
JOSEPH "SANDY" SADDLER, USA (BOSTON, MA)
ALAN SIGURDSEN, DENMARK
JOE TETTEH, GHANA
HOWARD WINSTONE, WALES
JACK WOLFE, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)

* GROUP TWO

BRUNO ALVES, PORTUGAL
ALBERTO ARIZMENDI, MEXICO
STEVIE CRUZ, USA (FT. WORTH, TX)
PAUL JORGENSEN, USA (PORT ARTHUR, TX)
MASASHI KANEDA, JAPAN
DELRON KHUMALO, SOUTH AFRICA
GRACIEUX LAMPERTI, FRANCE
EVERETT RIGHTMIRE, USA (SIOUX CITY, IA)
ROLLY SANTIAGO, PHILIPPINES
FERNANDO TAVAREZ, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JESAN VALENZUELA, PHILIPPINES
FERNANDO ZAMACOLA, PERU

* GROUP THREE

BENNY BASS, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
RUBEN CASTILLO, USA (BAKERSFIELD, CA)
AUBURN COPELAND, USA (FLINT, MI)
PATRICK FORD, GUYANA
DWIGHT HAWKINS, USA (SAN DIEGO, CA)
JORGE JIMENEZ, VENEZUELA
RYAN PARKER, AUSTRALIA
CLAUDIO REDONDO, ARGENTINA
JUAN SANCHEZ, PUERTO RICO
GENE SMITH, USA (WASHINGTON, DC)
GEORGE SMITH, ENGLAND
ANUCHA THONGLAO, THAILAND

* GROUP FOUR

JET BALLY, PHILIPPINES
CHRISTOPHER BATTALINO, USA (HARTFORD, CT)
RONNIE CLAYTON, ENGLAND
JOHNNY DUNDEE, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
MARK FORREST, CANADA
KIYOSHI HATANAKA, JAPAN
HELMUT MULLER, GERMANY
CHRIS MULLIGAN, NEW ZEALAND
MASAMI NAGAI, JAPAN
JIMMY PERRIN, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
FRANCOIS SALVATERRE, FRANCE
TERRY SPINKS, ENGLAND

"We now move onto the Lightweight divison," said Molk, after a considerable round of applause from the audience.

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION

REGIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION GROUPS

* REGION: NORTH AMERICA

PAUL ARMSTEAD, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
JOE BROWN, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
TONY CANZONERI, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
TYRONE EVERETT, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
ARTHUR KING, CANADA
RAY LAMPKIN, USA (PORTLAND, OR)
RAFAEL LIMON, MEXICO
ROCKY LOCKRIDGE, USA (DALLAS, TX)
ARTURO LOMELI, MEXICO
RUBEN NAVARRO, MEXICO
RICHIE PLUNKETT, USA (BRONX, NY)
PERNELL WHITAKER, USA (NORFOLK, VA)

* REGION: AFRICA

RAY ADIGUN, NIGERIA
EMAD ALLAM, EGYPT
CORNELIUS BOZA-EDWARDS, UGANDA
JONATHAN DELE, NIGERIA
MOSES KANGWA, ZAMBIA
SAMUEL MENSAH, GHANA
BRIAN MITCHELL, SOUTH AFRICA
AZUMAH NELSON, GHANA
OBAFEMI ROTIMI, NIGERIA
WILLIE TOWEEL, SOUTH AFRICA
FREDERICK TSHILOLO, CONGO
BENNI WILLIAMS, SOUTH AFRICA

* REGION: ASIA/OCEANIA

RENE BARRIENTOS, PHILIPPINES
RENATO CORNETT, AUSTRALIA
GABRIELE ELORDE, PHILIPPINES
JAGUAR KAKIZAWA, JAPAN
HIROSHI KOBAYASHI, JAPAN
TERUO KOSAKA, JAPAN
JOHNNY SATO, PHILIPPINES
DAOMAI SITHKODOM, THAILAND
KUROKAWA TAIKI, JAPAN
YAMADA TSUBASA, JAPAN
BEN VILLAFLOR, PHILIPPINES
HWAN-KIL YUH, KOREA

* REGION: EUROPE

LOTHAR ABEND, GERMANY
SERGEI ARTEMIEV, RUSSIA
MICHAEL AYERS, ENGLAND
KEN BUCHANAN, SCOTLAND
DAVE CHARNLEY, ENGLAND
SERAPHIN FERRER, FRANCE
FRED GALIANA, SPAIN
JEAN-BAPTISTE MENDY, FRANCE
PAOLO ROSI, ITALY
ALDO SPOLDI, ITALY
JIM WATT, SCOTLAND
FREDDIE WELSH, WALES

* REGION: SOUTH AMERICA

ANTONIO AMAYA, PANAMA
ALEXIS ARGUELLO, NICARAGUA
CARLOS ARO, ARGENTINA
CARLOS CANETE, ARGENTINA
VICENTE DERADO, ARGENTINA
ROBERTO DURAN, PANAMA
ERNESTO ESPANA, VENEZUELA
LEONEL HERNANDEZ, VENEZUELA
ISMAEL LAGUNA, PANAMA
ANDRES MONDRAGON, COLOMBIA
ALFREDO PITALUA, COLOMBIA
VICENTE SANTANA, BRAZIL

* REGION: CARIBBEAN

FELIX BROWN, JAMAICA
HECTOR CAMACHO, PUERTO RICO
TEO CRUZ, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ALFREDO ESCALERA, PUERTO RICO
VILOMAR FERNANDEZ, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ANGEL ROBINSON GARCIA, CUBA
CLAUDE NOEL, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
GREGORIO PUMARES, PUERTO RICO
EDWIN ROSARIO, PUERTO RICO
SAMMY SERRANO, PUERTO RICO
DOUG VAILLANT, CUBA
ORLANDO ZULUETA, CUBA

FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES

* GROUP ONE

BOB ALLOTEY, GHANA
SAMMY ANGOTT, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)
HUGO BARRAZA, COLOMBIA
JACKIE BEARD, USA (DETROIT, MI)
JACK BLACKBURN, USA (VERSAILLES, KY)
ENRIQUE BOLANOS, MEXICO
EMORY CABANA, USA (SANFORD, ME)
GEORGE DUNN, USA (HARTFORD, CT)
SAMMY FULLER, USA (BOSTON, MA)
ALFREDO MARCANO, VENEZUELA
MARIO MARTINEZ, MEXICO
JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ, MEXICO

* GROUP TWO

ANATOLY ALEXANDROV, KAZAKHSTAN
FRANKIE BALTAZAR, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
LIVINGSTONE BRAMBLE, VIRGIN ISLANDS
GEORGE CHANEY, USA (BALTIMORE, MD)
TOMMY COLLINS, USA (BOSTON, MA)
FREDDIE DAWSON, USA (THOMASVILLE, AR)
RICHARD HOWARD, CANADA
RAY MANCINI, USA (YOUNGSTOWN, OH)
BILLY PETROLLE, USA (FARGO, ND)
STEVE SULLIVAN, USA (BROOKLYN, NY)
ISHIMATSU SUZUKI, JAPAN
IKE WILLIAMS, USA (TRENTON, NJ)

* GROUP THREE

RICARDO ARREDONDO, MEXICO
BEAU JACK, USA (AUGUSTA, GA)
KENNY BOGNER, USA (TRENTON, NJ)
GIL CADILLI, USA (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
ESTEBAN DEJESUS, PUERTO RICO
ROBERTO GARCIA, USA (OXNARD, CA)
GREG HAUGEN, USA (AUBURN, WA)
RAY MILLER, USA (CHICAGO, IL)
PEDRO MONTANEZ, PUERTO RICO
OSCAR NELSON, DENMARK
LARRY STANTON, USA (MERRICK, NY)
SHINICHI YAMABE, JAPAN

* GROUP FOUR

LOU AMBERS, USA (HERKIMER, NY)
GEORGE ARAUJO, USA (PROVIDENCE, RI)
IDELFONSO BETHELMY, VENEZUELA
LARRY BOARDMAN, USA (MARLBORO, CT)
MAXIE DOCUSEN, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
AL FORD, CANADA
RODOLFO GONZALEZ, MEXICO
JUSTIN JUUKO, UGANDA
LUDWIG LIGHTBURN, HONDURAS
WILLIE RITCHIE, USA (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
LEW TENDLER, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
BERNABE VASQUEZ, MEXICO

"Up next is the Welterweight division," said Molk.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION

REGIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION GROUPS

* REGION: CARIBBEAN

WILFRED BENITEZ, PUERTO RICO
SIMON BROWN, JAMAICA
HECTOR CONSTANCE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
ANGEL ESPADA, PUERTO RICO
BUNNY GRANT, JAMAICA
ISAAC LOGART, CUBA
MIGUEL MONTILLA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JOSE NAPOLES, CUBA
LUIS RODRIGUEZ, CUBA
FAUSTO RODRIGUEZ, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JOSE STABLE, CUBA
FELIX TRINIDAD, PUERTO RICO

* REGION: SOUTH AMERICA

MAURICIO BRAVO, VENEZUELA
PEDRO CASTELLINI, VENEZUELA
ANTONIO CERVANTES, COLOMBIA
JUAN MARTIN COGGI, ARGENTINA
ROMAN GUARDIA, PANAMA
JOAO HENRIQUE, BRAZIL
NICOLINO LOCCHE, ARGENTINA
JAMES LOMBARDO, PANAMA
TITO MARSHALL, PANAMA
HUGO PINEDA, COLOMBIA
UBALDO SACCO, ARGENTINA
FEDERICO THOMPSON, ARGENTINA

* REGION: EUROPE/AFRICA

BRUNO ARCARI, ITALY
DAVID BARTLETT, SOUTH AFRICA
JACK BERG, ENGLAND
GUSTAV EDER, GERMANY
LLOYD HONEYGHAN, ENGLAND
BENEDICT KHUMALO, SOUTH AFRICA
DUILIO LOI, ITALY
LOMANA NONDA, CONGO
SEYI OLOFINJANA, NIGERIA
IKE QUARTEY, GHANA
JOHN H. STRACEY, ENGLAND
ADEMOLA UDEZE, NIGERIA

* REGION: NORTH AMERICA EAST

MAXIE BERGER, CANADA
VIC CARDELL, USA (HARTFORD, CT)
BILLY GRAHAM, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
CLYDE GRAY, CANADA
JOHNNY GRECO, CANADA
RAY LEONARD, USA (PALMER PARK, MD)
JAMES MCGIRT, USA (BRENTWOOD, NY)
EDDIE PERKINS, USA (CLARKSDALE, MS)
JAMES RAY, USA (HASTINGS, FL)
JOHNNY SAXTON, USA (NEWARK, NJ)
MARLON STARLING, USA (HARTFORD, CT)
MELDRICK TAYLOR, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)

* REGION: NORTH AMERICA WEST

RENE ARREDONDO, MEXICO
KID AZTECA, MEXICO
AARON LISTER BROWN, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
CURTIS COKES, USA (DALLAS, TX)
PIPINO CUEVAS, MEXICO
DONALD CURRY, USA (FORT WORTH, TX)
DON JORDAN, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
JIMMY MCLARNIN, CANADA
GASPAR ORTEGA, MEXICO
CHARLEY SHIPES, USA (OAKLAND, CA)
JACK THOMPSON, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
MAURICE WATKINS, USA (HOUSTON, TX)

* REGION: ASIA/OCEANIA

GEORGE BARNES, AUSTRALIA
JACK CARROLL, AUSTRALIA
DAVID CROWE, NEW ZEALAND
ROBERTO CRUZ, PHILIPPINES
HIROKI GUSHIKEN, JAPAN
AKIO KAMEDA, JAPAN
SAENSAK MUANGSURIN, THAILAND
SHOJI OHASHI, JAPAN
SAMAN SUKOTHAI, THAILAND
JIRO SUZUKI, JAPAN
MICHAEL TAYLOR, AUSTRALIA
EMMANUEL TORRES, PHILIPPINES

FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES

* GROUP ONE

TOMMY BELL, USA (YOUNGSTOWN, OH)
RAFAEL GARCIA, VENEZUELA
RAMON LACRUZ, ARGENTINA
BILLY LYNCH, USA (HARTFORD, CT)
JORGE MORENO, PANAMA
JASON MORRIS, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
BENNY PARET, CUBA
FRANCOIS PAVILLA, FRANCE
WILLY QUATOUR, GERMANY
ERNIE RODERICK, ENGLAND
CHARLEY SCOTT, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
ALEXIS VALDERRAMA, COLOMBIA

* GROUP TWO

FREDERICO DE SOUZA, BRAZIL
STANLEY HAYWARD, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
SANG-HYUN KIM, KOREA
REINHARDT KOHLER, GERMANY
TED LEWIS, ENGLAND
LIAM MAGHEE, AUSTRALIA
ROGER MENETREY, FRANCE
GERARDO MORALES, MEXICO
JAMES PAGE, USA (PITTSBURG, CA)
LUTHER RAWLINGS, USA (CHICAGO, IL)
MICHAEL WATSON, AUSTRALIA
JONTY COETZER, SOUTH AFRICA

* GROUP THREE

IFEANI ADAMU, NIGERIA
CARLOS ALOU, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
PEDRO CABRERA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JIMMY CLABBY, USA (HAMMOND, IN)
BERNARD DOCUSEN, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
DAVID FLEMMING, NEW ZEALAND
CARLOS HERNANDEZ, VENEZUELA
LEROY JACKSON, CANADA
JOHNNY JADICK, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
SANDRO LOPOPOLO, ITALY
PATRIZIO OLIVA, ITALY
AHMED SANTOS, MEXICO

* GROUP FOUR

VIRGIL AKINS, USA (ST. LOUIS, MO)
BILLY ALGER, USA (SAN DIEGO, CA)
EVERALDO AZEVEDO, ARGENTINA
NINO LAROCCA, ITALY
VINCE MARTINEZ, USA (MT. KISCO, NY)
GREGORY MULLINS, CANADA
ALEXIS ORTIZ, PUERTO RICO
BOON-NAM PANOMYAONG, THAILAND
JUSTIN ROWSELL, AUSTRALIA
HECTOR THOMPSON, AUSTRALIA
MIGUEL VELASQUEZ, SPAIN
DANILO VILORIA, PHILIPPINES

"We've now arrived at the Middleweight division," Molk said. "I will say that there's little doubt that this is the most talent-heavy division in the entire International Boxing League. That's not a slight on our other divisions, it's simply the truth. The man who manages to claim our inaugural World Middleweight Championship will have earned it, and then some."

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION

REGIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION GROUPS

* REGION: EUROPE

NIGEL BENN, ENGLAND
NINO BENVENUTI, ITALY
TOM BOGS, DENMARK
LAURENT BOUDOUANI, FRANCE
MARCEL CERDAN, FRANCE
LUIS FOLLEDO, SPAIN
MAURICE HOPE, ENGLAND
ALAN MINTER, ENGLAND
ODDONE PIAZZA, ITALY
LEO STAROSCH, GERMANY
GRATIEN TONNA, FRANCE
RANDY TURPIN, ENGLAND

* REGION: SOUTH AMERICA

FABIO AUTRAN, BRAZIL
KENNY BRISTOL, GUYANA
MIGUEL CASTELLINI, ARGENTINA
MIGUEL DEOLIVEIRA, BRAZIL
OMAR ENDARA, PANAMA
JOE GANS, PANAMA
CARLOS HERRERA, ARGENTINA
ROLANDO LOMBARDO, PANAMA
SANTIAGO LOPEZ, COLOMBIA
JUAN ROLDAN, ARGENTINA
ANDRES SELPA, ARGENTINA
RODRIGO VALDEZ, COLOMBIA

* REGION: ASIA/OCEANIA/AFRICA

LES DARCY, AUSTRALIA
MICHAEL DYSON, AUSTRALIA
CEFERINO GARCIA, PHILIPPINES
MASASHI KUDO, JAPAN
TADASHI MIHARA, JAPAN
GIOVANNI PRETORIUS, SOUTH AFRICA
DAVE SANDS, AUSTRALIA
SHINJI TAKEHARA, JAPAN
DICK TIGER, NIGERIA
KOICHI WAJIMA, JAPAN
TROY WATERS, AUSTRALIA
CHARLIE WEIR, SOUTH AFRICA

* REGION: NORTH AMERICA EAST/CARIBBEAN

JOEY ARCHER, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
GENE ARMSTRONG, USA (ELIZABETH, NJ)
YAMA BAHAMA, BAHAMAS
RUBIN CARTER, USA (PATERSON, NJ)
MIKE MCCALLUM, JAMAICA
ELISHA OBED, BAHAMAS
DONATO PADUANO, CANADA
JEFF SMITH, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
HARRY SMITH, USA (HARLEM, NY)
KID TUNERO, CUBA
MICKEY WALKER, USA (ELIZABETH, NJ)
HOLMAN WILLIAMS, USA (PENSACOLA, FL)

* REGION: NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL

FRANK BATTAGLIA, CANADA
CHARLEY BURLEY, USA (BESSEMER, PA)
WILFIE GREAVES, CANADA
HARRY GREB, USA (PITTSBURGH, PA)
RONNIE HARRIS, USA (CANTON, OH)
STANLEY KETCHEL, USA (GRAND RAPIDS, MI)
GREG MOE, USA (INDEPENDENCE, MO)
JAKE MORRISON, USA (CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI)
MIKE O'DOWD, USA (ST. PAUL, MN)
PAUL PIRRONE, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)
TED WRIGHT, USA (DETROIT, MI)
TONY ZALE, USA (CHICAGO, IL)

* REGION: NORTH AMERICA WEST

JAVIER AGUIRRE, MEXICO
FREDDIE APOSTOLI, USA (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
LUPE AQUINO, MEXICO
GEORGE DUKE, USA (PETALUMA, CA)
MARCOS GERALDO, MEXICO
BOBBY JONES, USA (OAKLAND, CA)
BERT LYTELL, USA (FRESNO, CA)
DENNY MOYER, USA (PORTLAND, OR)
TERRY NORRIS, USA (CAMPO, CA)
MICHAEL OLAJIDE, CANADA
FREDDIE STEELE, USA (TACOMA, WA)
JAMES TONEY, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)

FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES

* GROUP ONE

JULIO ALVARES, CUBA
CARMELO BOSSI, ITALY
HUGO CORRO, ARGENTINA
MICHAEL CRONJE, SOUTH AFRICA
LAURENT DAUTHUILLE, FRANCE
HASTINGS GAYLE, JAMAICA
JOSE GONZALEZ, PUERTO RICO
SOLLY KRIEGER, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
ARTIE LEVINE, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)
TIBERIO MITRI, ITALY
TONY SIBSON, ENGLAND
JAE-DO YUH, KOREA

* GROUP TWO

STEVE BELLOISE, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
GUILLERMO CARRILES, PANAMA
TEBIRO DIAW, NIGERIA
DON FULLMER, USA (WEST JORDAN, UT)
DAVID GIBBS, AUSTRALIA
CHARLEY JOSEPH, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
HIROMI KAMAMOTO, JAPAN
DIEGO KEMPES, ARGENTINA
JUAN RIVERO, ARGENTINA
MARIANO RONALDO, BRAZIL
LOMANA WAMBA, CONGO
COLEY WELCH, USA (PORTLAND, ME)

* GROUP THREE

JIMMY BEAU, USA (BRIDGEPORT, CT)
DWIGHT DAVISON , USA (DETROIT, MI)
JESUS ENAMORADO, CUBA
CLAUDIO FERNANDEZ, PERU
RENE JACQUOT, FRANCE
TONY JANIRO, USA (YOUNGSTOWN, OH)
ANTHONY JONES, USA (DETROIT, MI)
DAVEY MOORE, USA (BRONX, NY)
VINCENT PETTWAY, USA (RANDALLSTOWN, MD)
DAVE SHADE, USA (VALLEJO, CA)
FRANZ SZUZINA, GERMANY
ROBERT VILLEMAIN, FRANCE

* GROUP FOUR

VITO ANTUOFERMO, ITALY
JOSE BASORA, PUERTO RICO
ROCKY CASTELLANI, USA (LUZERNE COUNTY, PA)
JOE DENUCCI, USA (NEWTON, MA)
AHMET DOTTUEV, RUSSIA
RALPH DUPAS, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
WALTER GOMEZ, ARGENTINA
FREDDIE HENNEBERRY, AUSTRALIA
WILLIE MONROE, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
FRANK MOODY, WALES
ROBBIE SIMS, USA (BROCKTON, MA)
ERNIE VIGH, USA (CARTERET, NJ)

"What a great lineup that is," said Molk, the crowd applauding in agreement. "Now for the big boys, the Light-Heavyweight division."

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

REGIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION GROUPS

* REGION: USA ATLANTIC/CARIBBEAN

DENNIS ANDRIES, GUYANA
IRAN BARKLEY, USA (BRONX, NY)
PAUL BERLENBACH, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
TOM BETHEA, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
DWIGHT BRAXTON, USA (CAMDEN, NJ)
JOHNNY PERSOL, USA (BROOKLYN, NY)
YOLANDE POMPEY, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
MAXIE ROSENBLOOM, USA (HARLEM, NY)
JAMES SCOTT, USA (RAHWAY, NJ)
JIMMY SLADE, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
MERQUI SOSA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JOSE TORRES, PUERTO RICO

* REGION: USA CENTRAL

JIMMY ADAMICK, USA (DETROIT, MI)
ERIK BENGTSON, USA (MILWAUKEE, WI)
JIMMY BIVINS, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)
DAN BUCCERONI, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
BILLY CONN, USA (PITTSBURGH, PA)
LINDELL HOLMES, USA (TOLEDO, OH)
HAROLD JOHNSON, USA (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
MARVIN JOHNSON, USA (INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
JOE KNIGHT, USA (CAIRO, GA)
STEVE LITTLE, USA (READING, PA)
MICHAEL MOORER, USA (MONESSEN, PA)
ALEXANDER WRIGHT, USA (CINCINNATI, OH)

* REGION: USA WEST

EDDIE BOOKER, USA (SAN JOSE, CA)
JACK CHASE, USA (HOLLYWOOD, CA)
BOB FOSTER, USA (ALBUQUERQUE, NM)
JACK FOX, USA (OMAHA, NE)
LEROY GRACE, USA (OAKLAND, CA)
TOMMY HARRISON, USA (LOS ANGELES, CA)
JOHN HENRY LEWIS, USA (PRESCOTT, AZ)
SCOT LONG, USA (MCCUNE, KA)
ALVARO LOPEZ, USA (STOCKTON, CA)
GORDON MCKENZIE, USA (MEMPHIS, TN)
MICHAEL NUNN, USA (DAVENPORT, IA)
MICHAEL SPINKS, USA (ST. LOUIS, MO)

* REGION: EUROPE/AFRICA

CELESTINE AMAKOCHI, NIGERIA
GEORGES CARPENTIER, FRANCE
STEVE COLLINS, IRELAND
BOB FITZSIMMONS, ENGLAND
PETITE FOURIE, FRANCE
LEN HARVEY, ENGLAND
MIKE HOLT, SOUTH AFRICA
TARIBO KESHI, NIGERIA
SHABANI MPUTU, CONGO
LOTTE MWALE, ZAMBIA
ALLAN POLLOCK, SOUTH AFRICA
GRACIANO ROCCHIGIANI, GERMANY

* REGION: SOUTH AMERICA

JORGE AHUMADA, ARGENTINA
FRANCISCO AVELINO, PERU
JOSE CACCIATORE, BRAZIL
MIGUEL ANGEL CUELLO, ARGENTINA
VICTOR GALINDEZ, ARGENTINA
DOGOMAR MARTINEZ, URUGUAY
MAURO MINA, PERU
FULGENCIO OBELMEJIAS, VENEZUELA
RAMON AVENAMAR PERALTA, ARGENTINA
VICENTE RONDON, VENEZUELA
MARIO ALBERTO SOSA, URUGUAY
ROBERTO VENANCIO, BRAZIL

* REGION: OCEANIA

PAUL ANDERSON, NEW ZEALAND
FRANK ASOTASI, NEW ZEALAND
DAVID CHAN, AUSTRALIA
ALI HABIB, AUSTRALIA
JONAH MAKA, TONGA
TUPUOLA MATAAFA, SAMOA
STEVE MATTHEWS, AUSTRALIA
NATHAN PRITCHARD, NEW ZEALAND
JASON SMITH, AUSTRALIA
MARK SOMOGYI, AUSTRALIA
DAVID TUPOU, NEW ZEALAND
JASON WANGANEEN, AUSTRALIA

FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES

* GROUP ONE

IN-CHUL BAEK, KOREA
CEZARY BISNIEK, POLAND
JOHN CONTEH, ENGLAND
VICTOR CORDOBA, PANAMA
YVON DURELLE, CANADA
GUS LESNEVICH, USA (CLIFFSIDE, NJ)
SIXTO RODRIGUEZ, USA (SAN ANSELMO, CA)
CHRISTIAN ROFF, USA (BELLEVUE, WA)
GIRALDO ROSSETTI, ITALY
GUSTAVE ROTH, BELGIUM
JAMES PAUL WARWICK, ENGLAND
TOMMY YAROSZ, USA (MONACA, PA)

* GROUP TWO

TONY ANTHONY, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
MELIO BETTINA, USA (BEACON, NY)
ALEX BUXTON, ENGLAND
JACK DELANEY, USA (BRIDGEPORT, CT)
HENRY HANK, USA (DETROIT, MI)
TONY MUNDINE, AUSTRALIA
GEORGE NICHOLS, USA (BUFFALO, NY)
CHONG-PAL PARK, KOREA
LORENZO PASCUAL, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ALLEN THOMAS, USA (CHICAGO, IL)
FRED WALMAN, USA (PAWTUCKET, RI)
JIMMY WEBB, USA (ST. LOUIS, MI)

* GROUP THREE

SAM BAROUDI, USA (AKRON, OH)
ANTON CHRISTOFORIDIS, GREECE
BRAD GARRISON, USA (CINCINNATI, OH)
RICHIE KATES, USA (BAYONNE, NJ)
JUKKA KOIVISTO, FINLAND
LEO LOMSKI, USA (ABERDEEN, WA)
HARRY MATTHEWS, USA (EMMETT, ID)
HOLLY MIMS, USA (WASHINGTON, DC)
TONY SHUCCO, USA (BOSTON, MA)
BILLY SMITH, USA (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ)
GREG TANNER, USA (MIAMI, FL)
BOB THORNINGTON, JAMAICA

* GROUP FOUR

BOBBY CZYZ, USA (WANAQUE, NJ)
ALBERT FINCH, ENGLAND
JULIO GABALDON, USA (AUSTIN, TX)
CLARENCE HINNANT, USA (WASHINGTON, DC)
WILLI HOEPNER, GERMANY
HERSCHEL JACOBS, USA (NEW YORK, NY)
JOEY MAXIM, USA (CLEVELAND, OH)
WILLIE PASTRANO, USA (NEW ORLEANS, LA)
MIKE ROSSMAN, USA (TURNERSVILLE, NJ)
BATTLING SIKI, SENEGAL
NATE SIMPSON, USA (SEATTLE, WA)
CHARLES WILLIAMS, USA (COLUMBUS, OH)

"And their you have it, ladies and gentlemen," said Molk, smiling. "The 600 men who will be competing in our upcoming tournaments have now been revealed."

The crowd applauded strongly, some standing in their ovation as Molk nodded and smiled, acknowledging the applause with a raised hand.

"There will now be a fifteen minute intermission," Molk continued. "Main courses will then be served before we present some entertainment that I know you'll all love."

Thirty minutes later, Molk was back on stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my profound pleasure to introduce to the stage Destiny's Child and Nelly!"

The announcement genuinely caught the audience by surprise but within moments they were on their feet applauding as the R 'n' B and Hip Hop superstars appeared on stage and launched into an energetic twenty minute performance.

Starting off with Destiny's Child performing their 2001 smash hit "Survivor", Nelly took the spotlight next and went through a great rendition of his current #1 single "Hot In Herre" before being joined by DC member Kelly Rowland for a duet of "Dilemma", the ballad that will apparently be his next single. The mini-concert was concluded by Beyonce strutting her stuff with a sexy, booty-shaking performance of her funky single from the latest Austin Powers movie, "Work It Out".

(to be continued)