By Boxing Bob Newman

Fightnews.com

The WBC has embarked on yet another humanitarian program which has come to fruition during the last three months. 2 Nations – 1 Dream involves children (ages 9-12) and teens (13-17) from Chicago, USA, Acapulco and Mexico City, Mexico, uniting them in physical, emotional and social endeavors of self improvement.

Back in August, a formal agreement was signed between the Mexican Foreign Ministry (through it’s General Counsel and the Institute of Mexicans Abroad) and the WBC to launch the “Boxing Without Frontiers: 2 Nations-1 Dream” program. The program includes training clinics, motivational speeches, psychological/emotional treatment, boxing exhibitions, meet and greet sessions with champions and social work. The event was attended by World Boxing Council President, Mr. Mauricio Sulaiman, General Strategy Director of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad Pablo Vazquez, representatives of Mexico City and Acapulco governments, plus former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, WBC International Champion Fres Oqeundo, as well as former WBC International champions Andrzej Fonfara and Brooke Dierdorf (all Chicago area residents).

Numerous past and present champs have been involved in the various subesquent events including, Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez, Erik Morales, Pipino Cuevas, Carlos Zarate, Marcos Villasana, Carlos Cuadras and current WBC Super Flyweight champ Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

It goes without saying that a program sponsored by a boxing organization would include such as training and actual competition. There are means of emotional and social support and growth available as well. The youth have done community service involving food service and visiting the elderly in nursing homes.

Actual boxing tournaments have and will continue to take place, in all three cities. December 3 will see action in Chicago’s Cicero Stadium with doors opening at 4 p.m.

For many of the participants, the boxing competition at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo is a serious goal and they hope that participation in the 2N1D program will help make those dreams a reality.

By all accounts, the activities in Acapulco, Mexico City and Chicago have been a resounding success and will continue into 2017.