Cardiff to host Night of champions

[El Raincoat]

Cardiff will host the largest gathering of past and present world champions in boxing history next year. The "Night of Champions" – due to take place at Cardiff International Arena in August 2010 – was announced at the World Boxing Council's annual convention in South Korea. The event was first held in Cancun in December 2006 just three months after Hurricane Wilma destroyed much of the Mexican resort. "Noche De Campeones" brought together 97 current and former WBC champions and played a major part in revitalising Cancun. WBC president Dr José Sulaimán said that as the birthplace of modern boxing, Britain was the right place to host the event.

"For the WBC to celebrate the second 'Night of Champions' in Cardiff, Wales, will be something to remember for the rest of our lives," said Sulaimán. "We expect to have more world champions than we did in Cancun. "With Great Britain being the birthplace of modern boxing 300 years ago, I believe that this is the place to have it. "We can have all the champions coming from Europe and Africa, with many, many coming from America and Asia, and I think it will be a fantastic reunion. "The WBC will work very, very hard to make it a great success.”

The council hope the world premiere of Howard Winstone biopic Risen will also be held on the night. David Walker, director of WBC Cardiff 2010, said: "Wales is a small country with a population three million, but disproportionately, it produces some of the greatest champions in the world. "You could argue that Jimmy Wilde was the greatest flyweight that ever existed, and you could argue that Joe Calzaghe was the greatest super middleweight that ever existed. "What small country in the world can claim two pound-for-pounders? "And in amateur boxing, for example, in the last 16 months in international competition, they produced 39 gold medals. It's phenomenal. "They really do punch above their weight. "When we wanted to put it in the home of modern boxing, as president Sulaimán said, we wanted it where it would have the most impact, and boxing is very ingrained in the culture.”

The event will be tied in with a pre-Olympic tournament called "Road to the Olympics". "There’s never been an Olympic tournament in Wales," Walker said. "It will be Team Great Britain hopefuls versus the rest of the world. "Can you imagine 104 current or former world champions sitting down and inspiring these kids? "It goes without saying – everyone who attends it, all the athletes there are going to be inspired, and all the young kids who watch it are going to be inspired. "Boxing will be exposed to a much wider audience of people."

[MacTavish]

Let's hope Enzo is there D