The World Boxing Council and Tecate Announce the 2016 Fight of the Year

MIAMI, Dec. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Tecate, beer's boldest boxing authority, jointly announced the 2016 Tecate Fight of the Year at the 54^th Annual WBC Convention in Hollywood, Fl.

Three fights vied for the top award including the Carlos Cuadras vs Roman Gonzalez slugfest, the Jorge Linares vs. Anthony Crolla unanimous decision and the nail-biting Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido brawl.

The award for the Tecate Fight of the Year went to the 12-round, toe-to-toe draw between Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido in Carson, CA on June 4, 2016. For the first time in WBC history, a single fighter, Vargas, has won the Fight of the Year in back-to-back years after winning in 2015 for his memorable contest against Takashi Miura.

Vargas and Salido shared the convention stage with WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and Tecate executive Gustavo Guerra, with each fighter being presented a one-of-a-kind WBC / Tecate Fight of the Year Green Belt.

"As we looked at all the fights that could have been considered for the 2016 Tecate Fight of the Year, I was reminded of all the former champions who have raised a WBC belt in the past and our commitment to excellence in the sport," said Mauricio Sulaimán, WBC President. "2016 was an emotional year as we lost Ali, and we wanted to recognize a fight he'd have been proud to witness. That said, I'd like to congratulate Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido on a legendary bout that I believe was dedicated to Ali's memory and is very well deserving of the Tecate Fight of the Year Award."

"Tecate passionately supports the biggest fights every year, and Vargas vs. Salido was a bold battle between two warriors where each man gave his best and stood unified at the center of the ring at the end of the night," said Gustavo Guerra, Tecate Brand Director. "It was an honor to watch these gentlemen trade punch after punch and we raise our glass to their passion, dedication and relentless spirit."

For additional details on Tecate, the sponsorship of the WBC Convention, or to speak with a Tecate representative about the brand, please contact BRAYA at [email protected].

About WORLD BOXING COUNCIL

The World Boxing Council is boxing's elite sanctioning body and has as its maximum priority to work and protect athlete's safety and health inside and outside of the boxing ring. The WBC was founded in 1963 and now is composed of 165 countries from around the world. Some of the WBC's greatest champions include Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar de La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao among others.

About HEINEKEN USA

HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation's leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of HEINEKEN NV, the world's most international brewer. Core brands imported into the U.S. are Heineken^®, the world's most international premium beer brand, the Dos Equis franchise, the Tecate franchise and Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders. HEINEKEN USA also imports Amstel Light, Newcastle Brown Ale, Red Stripe, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com.

SOURCE HEINEKEN USA Inc.