Sanctioning body grants champion emeritus status

Press Release: Ryan Wissow, president of the WIBA, has announced that Laila Ali will be honored as its first ever "Champion Emeritus."  Laila is taking a sabbatical from the sport to start a family after marrying former NFL star, Curtis Conway.  Since capturing the WIBA super middleweight title in 2002, Ali has remained undefeated with a perfect record of (26-0, 23 KO's) and will receive "Champion Emeritus" status, which by definition means, "retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement."  The "Champion Emeritus" status is not only to guarantee Laila an immediate title shot upon her return to the sport but to honor the WIBA's self-proclaimed greatest champion ever.  Wissow also announces that Russian brawler, Natasha Ragosina, will fight an opponent to be determined on September 8, 2007 in Berlin Germany for Ali's now-vacant belt.