Billy Corito visits local schools

Mr Billy Corito & Promoter Mr. Paul Borg

MBC APPOINT MJ AS SECRETARY GENERAL

Marc Elliott Leslie James is his full name but he is known to many as simply Marc James.

An ex-Royal British Army Soldier, he started boxing in 1994 at Bertu’s Gym Hal Gharghur. With an amateur record of 32 bouts (28 wins – 4 losses) he showed great potential as a young fighter.

Marc joined the British Army in 2003 where he served his time within the 5th Regiment of Foot Guards, Welsh Guards.

After a short promising career as a boxing athlete, Marc had to turn his interest to officiating within the Yorkshire district, after a serious RTA lead to his medically discharged from the army.

In 2006, he was granted a coaching certificate by the Army Boxing Association and coached a team of army boxers. (1st Battalion Welsh Guards).

While in the position of Regiments Boxing Manager Marc also ran the Army low key Boxing Events, while achieving his ABA England Judge and Timekeeper in 2008.

He then progressed to a Refereeing role in 2010. He helped run a community service programme boxing gym in Catterick called JABS ABC. 

He was also recognized by many national organisations such as UKCC, SPORT ENGLAND and ABAE.

In 2008, Marc was elected as Competition Technical Adviser and formed part of the Revamp Committee of the Malta Boxing Federation Executive Committee, which had been in a dormant state for over 15 years.

Later in June 2010, the members of the Maltese Boxing Federation elected Marc as Secretary General. He held this position until December 2011.

While on the Maltese Amateur Committee, Marc James set up key elements of National Governance with programmes such as Officials and Coaches Workshops, leading the team to full recognition by the National Olympic and the Country’s Sport Committees. Marc founded and ran 2 National Championships, 2 International Home Events, and has represented Maltese Amateur Boxing to the UK, Monaco, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Italy and Kazakhstan at the 2010 AIBA World Convention.

In October 2012 The Malta Boxing Commission approached Marc and following positive meetings announced that he was the new Permanent Secretary General of the Malta Boxing Commission shortly after.

MALTA - WBC AFFILIATED

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL GRANT MBC AFFILIATION

On the 21st December 2012, Mr Jose Sulaiman, President of The World Boxing Council (WBC), responded to the Malta Boxing Commission's official application for affiliation.

Mr Sulaiman wrote, “We are happy to accept your request and to register officially the Malta Boxing Commission as an affiliate of the World Boxing Council”.

Mr Sulaiman further stated “I am impressed on the work the MBC has already done and I would like to express my satisfaction especially for the safety measures implemented”.

WORLD BOXING FEDERATION WELCOME MALTA BACK

World Boxing Federation Welcome Malta Back Into The Fold

WBF Vice President Jean Marcel Nartz announced that the World Boxing Federation have renewed their affiliation with the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC), now presided over by two-division, two-weight world champion Steve ‘Celtic Warrior’ Collins.

The announcement comes just days after the newly reinvigorated MBC successfully sanctioned and officiated the first professional boxing championship event to take place on the islands since 1964, when John ‘Pancho’ Terribile became the first Maltese boxer to be crowned champion, following his outpointing Charles ‘Gypsy’ Scicluna in August of that year.

On making the announcement Nartz said, “We are pleased to welcome the MBC back into the ever growing WBF family.

The board of the MBC have worked extremely hard to strengthen their organization, since the removal from office of the former President Mr. Zammit in October.

Their determination to cement their position, as the officially recognized professional boxing organization on the islands, has seen them make various high profile appointments.

The most noticeable being the appointments of not one, but two renowned ex-world champions to head the board: Steve Collins, as president, and Tim Witherspoon as vice president.

Just last week the new board of the MBC successfully sanctioned their first event, the report from the independent observer praised them for the professionalism, and noted the extreme care that was taken, in matters of health and safety of the boxers competing, as well as the anti doping tests that were undertaken.

Taking all these matters into account lead to the WBF executive to back the MBC unconditionally. We look forward to soon sanction a WBF championship in Malta and thus stop unserious so-called sanctioning groups to damage the reputation of Maltese boxing and the MBC.”

MALTA BOXING COMMISSION TO JOIN WADA

At the Malta Boxing Commission special meeting on Sunday 2nd December, MBC Medical Adviser Dr Mark Xuereb proposed to the board that Malta Boxing Commission adopt the World Anti-Doping Association & National ADA Statutes.

Due to the prolific exposing of high profile boxers recently for drug cheating, the entire board voted in support of Dr Xuereb's proposal and recommended that this should be a matter of priority.

In addition the board agrees that all matters concerning MEDICALS and ANTI DOPING are to dealt with by Malta Boxing Commission Medical Director Dr. Mark Xuereb.

MALTA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

MALTA NATIONAL BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

In 2013 the Malta Boxing Commission will be introducing the Malta National Boxing Championship, which will be for all divisions and competed for by both Male and Female professional boxers..

The eligibility criteria to compete for the National Championship are:

Professionally licensed boxer, licensed either by the Malta Boxing Commission or by a National Sanctioning organisation recognised by the MBC, and fulfils at least one of criteria below.

1. Malta Boxing Commission Licensed

2. Maltese National

3. Overseas resident with proof of Maltese heritage (Grandparents, parents etc)

4. Overseas national that has resided in Malta for minimum 12 months

To register contact Permanent Secretary General

World Champion Steve Collins Appointed President Of The Malta Boxing Commission

World Champion Steve Collins Appointed President

The Malta Boxing Commission today announced that World Champion Steve ‘Celtic Warrior’ Collins has been appointed as their new President.


Outgoing Interim President Mr Di Caro, who is a founding partner of the Malta Boxing Commission, then spoke briefly on the appointment, “We, the entire board of the Malta Boxing Commission, are proud to announce that our new President is Mr Steve Collins".

Throughout his career Steve has been an exemplary ambassador for the sport, as well as possessing a superlative boxing pedigree.

As an amateur he won 26 Irish titles, as a pro he achieved the pinnacle of the sport, World Champion, not just the once but at two weights – Middleweight and Super Middleweight - as well as won both Irish and American National Championship honours.

Since retiring from the ring in 1997, Steve has remained very much “hands on” within the sport, not just in Malta but also the UK and of course his homeland of Ireland.

As such we, the board of the Malta Boxing Commission, are particularly pleased to welcome Steve to the organisation, as we believe that under his leadership we will finally achieve our aim of developing a professional boxing culture within the Republic of Malta.” Malta Boxing Commission Website