Just ran across this new organization, the WFO. Looks like they want to be the new WAMMA.
From their About section:
From their About section:
Although MMA has exploded in popularity in the past few years, the sports current fractured structure threatens to slow this growth and confuse the mainstream media and fans. It is the WFO’s belief that MMA fans worldwide will become very confused as to who the real World Champions are. As of now, each promotional company crowns its own World Champions. With several thousand MMA promotional companies in existence, it will become unclear as to who the best fighters in the world really are. It is our goal to recognize the world’s best MMA athletes and crown them with one of the finest quality belts as well as the most meaningful belt in the industry.
Describing MMA’s need for a recognized “World Champion,” MMA promoter Gary Shaw stated recently “for MMA to explode, really explode, you don’t just have a UFC champion or a Pride or a K-1 champion, but you have a true World Champion.” This is where the WFO mandate begins; by establishing clear rules and regulations, and an unbiased ranking system. The WFO has been formed to encourage promoters to work together to crown a universally recognized champion, the “WFO Champion.”
The World Fighting Organization, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, is headed by President John Daddono, who has over 30 years of experience in boxing and mixed martial arts. Daddono is also the founder and Chairman of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) which he founded in 1992. Some of the current IBO World Champions include Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao, Wladimir "Dr. Steelhammer" Klitschko, and Chad Dawson. WFO Vice President Jeremy Levine, Esq., is also the Vice-President of the IBO. Levine was a member of the Florida State Athletic Commission for 5 years and has supervised world title bouts for over 15 years. The officers of the WFO are looking to aid in the lacking ranking structure in which MMA is currently experiencing as well as recognizing only one true World Champion per weight class.
Describing MMA’s need for a recognized “World Champion,” MMA promoter Gary Shaw stated recently “for MMA to explode, really explode, you don’t just have a UFC champion or a Pride or a K-1 champion, but you have a true World Champion.” This is where the WFO mandate begins; by establishing clear rules and regulations, and an unbiased ranking system. The WFO has been formed to encourage promoters to work together to crown a universally recognized champion, the “WFO Champion.”
The World Fighting Organization, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, is headed by President John Daddono, who has over 30 years of experience in boxing and mixed martial arts. Daddono is also the founder and Chairman of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) which he founded in 1992. Some of the current IBO World Champions include Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao, Wladimir "Dr. Steelhammer" Klitschko, and Chad Dawson. WFO Vice President Jeremy Levine, Esq., is also the Vice-President of the IBO. Levine was a member of the Florida State Athletic Commission for 5 years and has supervised world title bouts for over 15 years. The officers of the WFO are looking to aid in the lacking ranking structure in which MMA is currently experiencing as well as recognizing only one true World Champion per weight class.
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