The World Boxing Council (WBC) has announced its first international boxing event in El Salvador, scheduled for September 20 at the José Adolfo Pineda National Gymnasium. The high-profile match is a pivotal step in transforming the country into a boxing hub in Latin America.
Heavyweights Kingsley Ibeh (15-2-1, 13 KOs) and Gerald Washington (21-6-1) will headline the event, battling for the WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight Championship title. The match is expected to draw international attention and set the stage for future professional boxing events in the region.
“The WBC is proud to support the first international professional boxing event in El Salvador, with this major heavyweight title fight on September 20,” said WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán. “The country is undergoing an incredible renaissance under the bold leadership of President Nayib Bukele and aspires to become a new international center for boxing.”
Sulaimán also emphasized the WBC’s commitment to the region: “The WBC is thrilled to support the growth of world-class boxing in Latin America and to join El Salvador’s efforts to create top-tier opportunities in the sport for athletes, promoters, officials, and fans both locally and globally.”
To support the development of combat sports in El Salvador, national authorities are proposing the appointment of International Boxing & MMA Consultants, Inc. (IBMC) as the national athletic commission. The plan includes establishing a long-term strategy to build a world-class professional boxing commission on par with the best in the world.