Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing wishes to congratulate his fighter, WBA World Featherweight Super Champion Chris “The Dragon” John, for being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Boxing Association.
32-year-old John (46-0-2, 22 KOs) has defeated the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Derrick Gainer and Rocky Juarez while making 15 successful defenses over a WBA-record nine years of being champion.
“Chris John is truly an all-time great,” said a proud Lewkowicz. “I am very happy the WBA has bestowed their highest honor on this most deserving champion and hero to his homeland of Indonesia.”
John was presented his prestigious award by WBA President Gilberto Mendoza at their 19th Annual Awards Dinner in Panama City, Panama, in front of other boxing luminaries including former champions Ricky Hatton and Khaosai Galaxy.
If he is able to defend his title four more times, John will equal the record set by Panama’s Eusebio Pedroza for successful featherweight title defenses.
Lewkowicz also wishes to announce that Sampson Boxing was awarded Recognition For Exceptional Performances in 2011 by the WBA and that one of his partners, Raja Sapta Oktohari of Mahkota Promotions of Indonesia, was awarded Asian Promoter of the Year.
“I am extremely happy and proud to see my company, my fighter and my good friend receive these awards from a fine organization like the World Boxing Association. It is my hope that I can continue to work closely with them to put on world-class boxing events all over the world. I sincerely thank Gilberto Mendoza and all the other members of their first-class organization.”
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
