Hanna Gabriels Granted Approval by WBO to Face Claressa Shields on June 22nd Without Being Stripped of her Jr. Middleweight Crown if Unsuccessful

From WBO:

Resolution – WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Champion Hanna Gabriels

WBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION

Resolution of the WBO World Championship Committee
WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Champion Hanna Gabriels
Granting Special Permission

The present case is heard upon a petition submitted by representatives Mr. Hector Fernandez de Cordova, Chief Executive Office of Chiquita Boxing USA, Attorney Mr. David Berlin on behalf of Mr. Dmitriy and Salita Promotions, and Mr. Richard Farnan also, representative of Chiquita Boxing, respectively, on behalf of current WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Champion, Ms. Hanna “La Amazona” Gabriels submitted via email communications during the month of April 2018, whereby the parties request special permission to grant approval of Ms. Gabriels moving up to the Middleweight Division and challenge current female IBF and WBC Middleweight Champion Ms. Clarissa Shields scheduled for June 22nd 2018 in a non-WBO Title bout, with the provision that her WBO Jr. Middleweight Championship Title will not be stripped if she is not victorious in the referenced bout. The WBO World Championship Committee (hereinafter “The Committee”) having considered the nature of the petition, Ms. Gabriels’s professional career, and accomplishments, having examined all criteria in accordance to our WBO Female Regulations in conjunction with the WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests, their applicability regarding the subject matter and being fully advised in the premises, it is determined:

WHEREAS, the World Boxing Organization Championship Committee recognizes Ms. Hanna Gabriels as an elite female world-class fighter, with a respectable
professional record of eighteen wins (18) with only one (1) defeat, and one (1) draw; eleven (11) of such wins by the way of Knockout; and,

WHEREAS, on December 19th 2009, Ms. Gabriels won the Vacant WBO Female Welterweight Title against Ms. Gabriela Marcela Zapata (8-3-0) at the National Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua by way of Knockout in round four (4); and,

WHEREAS, on May 29th 2010, Ms. Gabriels became a WBO Female two-division champion winning the WBO Jr. Middleweight Championship against Ms. Gardy Pena Alvarez (9-1-2) at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, by way of Technical Knockout in round one; and,

WHEREAS, on January 9th 2011, Ms. Gabriels made her first successful defense of her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Title against Ms. Melisenda Perez (7-2-1) at the Hotel & Casino Conrad in Punta del Este, Uruguay by way of Technical Knockout in round ten (10); and,

WHEREAS, on March 31st 2011, Ms. Gabriels again prevailed defending her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Title in a rematch against Ms. Melisenda Perez at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica, winning also, by way of Technical Knockout in round seven (7); and,

WHEREAS, on January 7th 2012, Ms. Gabriels made her third successful WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Title defense, this time against Ms. Dakota Stone (10-8-5) at the Palacio de los Deportes in Heredia, Costa Rica by way of Technical Knockout in round eight (8); and,

WHEREAS, on February 28th 2013, Ms. Gabriels lost her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Championship Title by way of Technical Knockout in round two (2) against then-undefeated Ms. Oxandia Castillo at the Ricardo Saprissa Ayma Stadium in San Juan de Tibas, San Jose, Costa Rica; and,

WHEREAS, on December 20th 2014, Ms. Gabriels became a two-time WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Champion winning the Vacant Female WBO Jr. Middleweight Title defeating Ms. Paty Ramirez (10-1-0) by way of Technical Knockout in round two (2) at the San Juan Resort and Casino, in Carolina, Puerto Rico; and,

WHEREAS, on October 17th 2015, Ms. Gabriels successfully defended her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Championship against Ms. Kali Reis (7-4-1) winning via unanimous decision at the Edgardo Baltodano Stadium, in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica; and,

WHEREAS, on June 18th 2016, Ms. Gabriels again defended successfully her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Championship and also won the Vacant Female Jr. Middleweight Title from another recognized sanctioning body defeating Ms. Katia Alvarino (8-2-1) by way of Technical Knockout in round three (3) at the Polideportivo José María Vargas, in La Guaira, Venezuela; and,

WHEREAS, on May 27th 2017, Ms. Gabriels made her third consecutive WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Title defense successfully defeating Ms. Natasha Spence (8-2- 1) via unanimous decision at the BN Arena, in Hatillo, San Jose, Costa Rica; and,

WHEREAS, on October 13th 2017, Ms. Gabriels defended for the fourth time her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Championship in a rematch against former WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion Ms. Oxandia Castillo, winning this time by unanimous decision at the Gimnasio Nacional, in San Jose, Costa Rica; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Gabriels is a two-division WBO Female World Champion winning titles at Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight, and a two-time Jr. Middleweight Title holder; Furthermore, won the Vacant Female Jr. Middleweight Title from another recognized sanctioning body, has faced highly-skilled opposition, defended successfully her WBO titles on numerous occasions, and has only one loss on her professional
resume; and,

WHEREAS, on April 2nd 2018, Mr. Hector Fernandez de Cordova Chief Executive Officer of Chiquita Boxing USA, and representative of Ms. Gabriels submitted email requesting confirmation if upon an agreement reached between Ms. Gabriels to face Ms. Clarissa Shields in a Middleweight Division non-WBO Title bout, The World Boxing Organization would not strip Ms. Gabriels’ WBO Jr. Middleweight Championship if Mr. Gabriels was not victorious; and,

WHEREAS, on April 7th 2018, Attorney Mr. David Berlin on behalf of Mr. Dmitriy Salita and Salita promotions submitted email stating that Salita’s Promotion’s card is scheduled for June 22nd 2018, whereby the main event broadcast on Showtime’s Boxing Special Edition will feature Ms. Gabriels moving up to the Middleweight Division to challenge two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and current IBF and WBC Middleweight Champion Ms. Clarissa Shields in a non-WBO Title bout. However, Mr. Berlin indicates that Ms. Gabriels will participate in the above-mentioned bout only with the condition
that she does not lose her WBO Jr. Middleweight Title. Lastly, seeks an exception from the WBO with respect to granting an extension in order to satisfy her mandatory defense obligations pursuant to our WBO Female and WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests upon the aforementioned non-WBO Middleweight bout; and,

WHEREAS, on April 9th 2018, Mr. Richard Farnan, Agent for Chiquita Boxing on behalf of Ms. Hanna Gabriels, submitted email concerning reassurance if Ms. Gabriels moves up to the Middleweight Division to face Ms. Clarissa Shields in a non-WBO Title bout, and does not succeed, she nevertheless retains her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Title; and,

WHEREAS, at present, Ms. Gabriels Mandatory Defense of her WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Championship is past due. Her WBO Jr. Middleweight Title Mandatory Defense was to be held no later than April 13th 2018; and

WHEREAS, the WBO Championship Committee has full authority as per our WBO Female and WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests to resolve this matter with the following being within our powers and discretion, and shall be interpreted to include any or all powers necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposed, policies and the intent of these rules; and,

WHEREAS, petitioners request arises from Ms. Hanna Gabriels’s decision to move towards the Middleweight division and challenge the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, currently undefeated Female IBF and WBC Middleweight World Champion Ms. Clarissa Shields in a non-WBO Middleweight Title bout; and,

WHEREAS, the Committee having considered the professional accomplishments of Ms. Gabriels, the arguments on behalf of her representatives, and the applicability of the WBO Female Regulations of World Championship Contests in conjunction with the WBO Rules and Regulations; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the WBO World Championship Committee according to our WBO Female Regulations in conjunction with the WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests:

(Any Rule not included in the Female Regulations of World Championship Contests will be subject to the World Boxing Organization Regulations of World Championship Contests)

Sections (a) (b), and (e) respectively, of the WBO Female Regulations of World Championship Contests, provide in relevant:

(a) Every female Champion recognized by the World Boxing Organization must make a Mandatory Defense of her Title every six (6) months, against the highest available and willing contender. The Championship Committee may order within each six (6) months to defend the title against an opponent to be accepted by the Committee. If the Champion wishes to defend her title between mandatory
defenses, she may do so against any rated boxer with the approval of the Championship Committee.

b) When a female World Champion recognized by the World Boxing Organization, fails to comply with her obligation to defend her Title on the date indicated by the Championship Committee, the title in her division will be declared Vacant.

e) A Female World Champion recognized by the World Boxing Organization shall not participate in a Non-Title fight unless she has applied for and has been granted Special Permission. If the World Champion participates in a Non-Title fight without Special Permission, the title of the Champion’s division may be declared Vacant.

In addition to the above rule, no female boxer recognized as World Champion in any weight category shall be permitted to hold more than one title at the same time. When a female champion in any weight category seeks to be a Champion of any other category or to unify the title with another Champion of another organization, she must previously request, in writing, the approval of the Championship Committee to participate in the said bout. If she is fighting in another category, the female boxer, simultaneously submit a document agreeing to resign one of the two titles in the event of being victorious and obtaining the Champion title in another category. Her resignation shall be effective within ten days (10) following the acquisition of the new title. The Champion who does not request permission to unify her title shall be subject to lose the title held at the time of participating in the unification bout.

In conjunction with the WBO Female Regulations, Section 15 of WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests provides:

(a) A WBO Champion shall not participate in a non-championship fight that is not a WBO Championship without the prior authorization of the WBO World Championship Committee. This authorization shall be subject to such conditions as the WBO World Championship Committee determines. In addition, this authorization will be granted only on the condition that the WBO Champion pay a fee to the WBO that is the equivalent of the amount that the WBO Champion would have paid to the WBO if the non-championship fight were conducted as a WBO Championship fight.

(b) A WBO Champion who wins a non-WBO Championship in a weight class that is different than the weight class in which he holds his WBO Championship must decide within ten (10) days of the non-WBO Championship which title in which weight class will retain. No WBO Champion may hold a non-WBO Championship in a weight class that is different from the weight class of his WBO Championship.

(c) The WBO may vacate the title of any Champion who conducts a contest in the Champion’s Weight Division which is not a defense of the title.

In summary, petitioners request approval upon Ms. Hanna Gabriels’s decision to move up towards the Middleweight Division to challenge current undefeated Female IBF and WBC Middleweight Champion Ms. Clarissa Shields in a non-WBO Title bout allegedly scheduled for June 22nd 2018. However, said request is conditioned that if Ms. Gabriels is not victorious in the referenced fight she will not be stripped of her WBO Jr. Middleweight Championship. Furthermore, the parties solicit an exception of our WBO Female and WBO Rules and Regulations to grant an extension in order to satisfy Ms.
Gabriels Mandatory Defense obligations currently past due as result of the referenced non-WBO Middleweight Title bout.

According to our records, Ms. Gabriel’s Mandatory Defense of her WBO Jr. Middleweight Title is currently past due, as her last title defense was held on October 13th 2017, against Ms. Oxandia Castillo; bout held at the Gimnasio Nacional, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Therefore, pursuant to our WBO Female and WBO Rules and Regulations, The Committee must order compliance of Mandatory Defense obligations immediately unless an exception is determined by this Committee. Failure of a WBO Champion to abide and comply with our Rules and Regulations specifically, mandatory obligations regardless of cause or fault, constitutes just cause within The Committee’s discretion to strip or declare vacant a WBO Champion’s title.

Pursuant to our WBO Female and WBO Rules and Regulations, if granted special permission and Ms. Gabriels is successful in the scheduled Non-WBO Middleweight Title contest, she shall have ten (10) days to determine which weight division whether Jr. Middleweight or Middleweight will retain upon winning a title. If Ms. Gabriels is not victorious in the referenced contest, the WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Title will be declared vacant.

In this case, the alleged bout is a non-WBO Championship fight whereby The Committee’s authorization is fully required and subject to the conditions determined. Moreover, approval of the non-WBO Championship fight is conditioned on the WBO Champion paying a fee to the World Boxing Organization that is the equivalent of the amount that she as WBO Champion would have paid to the organization if the nonchampionship fight were conducted as a WBO Championship fight.

Lastly, a WBO Champion who wins a non-WBO Championship in a weight class that is different than the weight class in which she holds her WBO Championship must decide within ten (10) days of the non-WBO Championship which title in which weight class she will retain. No WBO Champion may hold a non-WBO Championship in a weight class that is different from the weight class of his WBO Championship.

Therefore, The Committee having assessed the request submitted by the petitioners, having examined Ms. Hanna Gabriels professional record and accomplishments, having reviewed our Rules and Regulations, and their applicability in the present case, and having The Committee any or all powers necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies, and intent of these rules determines:

a) The Committee hereby grants special permission to Ms. Hanna Gabriels to participate in a non-WBO Middleweight Championship Title bout against Ms. Clarissa Shields scheduled on June 22nd 2018; hence an extension to her Mandatory Defense is allowed subject to the provisions set forth herein. However, The Committee is strictly bound and must enforce the WBO Rules and

Regulations and cannot authorize the condition hereby requested by petitioners regardless the outcome of the referenced non-WBO Middleweight Title bout.Therefore, if Ms. Gabriels suffers a loss, her WBO Jr. Middleweight Championship will be declared vacant pursuant to our Rules. Nonetheless, if Ms. Gabriels is victorious, she must then decide within the time frame provision established in our Rules, which weight division will she continue to participate and comply with all other WBO Championship duties including but not limited, to her Mandatory Defense obligations. If any events, issues or circumstances prevent holding the above-mentioned non-WBO Middleweight title bout versus Ms. Shields, Ms. Gabriels must comply with her Mandatory Defense immediately.

Hence, The Committee hereby grants Ms. Gabriels a twenty-four-hour period upon notice of this resolution to determine if she wishes to proceed according to our ruling. If the World Boxing Organization does not receive any answer regarding the subject matter within the time frame stated herein, The Committee will proceed accordingly.

b) This is a final decision of the Championship Committee. The affected WBO participant may appeal such determination to the Complaint and Grievance Committee as per Rule 34, which as per Rule 3(e) of the WBO Appeals Regulation, must be submitted in writing to the WBO President within fourteen (14) days of this decision as its sole and exclusive remedy.

Dated in San Juan, Puerto Rico on this 16th day of April, 2018

WBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE
By: Luis Batista Salas, Esq.
Chairman
Championship Committee