By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

I open my eyes and jump out of bed with anxiety and anguish, a few seconds pass … and realized that it’s already Sunday, the convention is over. All is said and done. The vast majority of our people have already returned home. There are no calls, messages, emergencies to resolve, on-the-spot decisions to make. So, now it’s time to transform everything and make fresh history.

What an incredible convention! The world of boxing met in Hamburg, Germany, the heart of Europe, and for 10 days we all worked intensely and immensely on a multitude of topics to create the 2025 plan of action. Continue reading “A Wonderful WBC Convention in Hamburg”

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman – WBC President

This past week was the celebration of an American tradition called “Thanksgiving Day.” On the last Thursday of November families get together and spend a weekend in the company of their loved ones.

They cook traditional dishes the likes of turkey, garnished with pumpkin puree along with sprinklings of marshmallows, cranberry sauce, pasta, greens … and I’ll stop there, because I’m getting hungry. There are NFL games throughout the day and family members talk, laugh and cry. Friday the day of maximum tempting discounts in the stores with the irresistible Black Friday, is celebrated and on Saturday and Sunday everyone begins their trip back home and get back to normal life with a warm heart.

Coincidentally, this week many things happened for which we can be thankful. Thanks to various people from our WBC family, Israel Vázquez was reunited with his parents and sister who are now with him at his home in California. Thank you also for the medical services that are being administered to him during this difficult, challenging time, and for the company and closeness, for the multiple messages of encouragement for our brave warrior. Dr. Louis Rodriguez, Nancy Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Pelayo, Federico Enriquez, and several more friends have been extremely supportive. Continue reading “Many Reasons To Give Thanks”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

We are about to leave for Hamburg, Germany, to celebrate our annual Convention, which will be from December 8 to 13 in a city that will greet us with great Christmas spirit and a shimmer, with its traditions which are so special.

This week is a very special one in the United States, as the Thanksgiving holiday unites many families for memorable times together. May the spirit of unity and love reign in as many as possible. Stay away from the phone and computer, put it down and out and enjoy those who are close to you in person. This who really matters. Give thanks for what you have, as there are many who are not as fortunate.

The World Boxing Council was founded in 1963 when the then President of Mexico, Don Adolfo López Mateos, called a meeting in Mexico City of the most important commissions of the boxing world. Don Adolfo was a boxer in his youth, and was a passionate fan who saw that very few Mexicans obtained opportunities to fight for a world championship. From that meeting arose the establishment of the WBC on February 14, 1963, that being the first Convention.

Continue reading “The WBC Conventions”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC

I suppose that most of those who are reading my column knew that last Friday, Mike Tyson returned to the ring and faced Jake Paul.

There is so much to comment on everything that happened. and it is hard for me to put my thoughts in order. Let’s see how it turns out. I will not even hint on any negatives and will focus on the positive as this was a memorable event overall.

Mike Tyson is a legendary figure who will be talked about in 500 years and for eternity. He won the WBC world heavyweight championship at the age of 20 and was feared like few others during his reign. He was Undisputed after Don King made the heavyweight tournament, and regained his WBC crown after being released from prison. Continue reading “Tyson vs. Paul: Behind An Unforgettable Event”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The electoral process in the United States has ended. Uncertainty and speculation are over. Donald Trump won the elections and will be the 47th President of the USA.

A wave of celebrations has emerged, another large flock of opportunists have already emerged, and fortunately the highly publicized social confrontations that were said would happen if Trump won did not occur.

Donald Trump is a friend of boxing, which we celebrate. It was our sport that in the 90s turned around its financial and structural complications. In an innovative and masterful move by Donald Trump, he teamed up with Don King to promote five Mike Tyson fights just when he was the most powerful athlete in the universe, the WBC and Undisputed world heavyweight champion, undefeated and considered invincible.

In 2018, as President of the United States, he granted a presidential pardon to Jack Johnson, a highly important situation that took decades to achieve. Johnson was the inspiration for Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and many more boxers and athletes. Continue reading “Trump, Tyson and Israel Vazquez”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
WBC President – Son of José Sulaimán

Upon returning from this recent trip, a friend told me, perhaps ironically, that he was jealous of me for traveling so much. It was a wonderful trip, but what you don’t see is what happens on each individual trip with travel time, waiting at airports, sleeping in hard or soft beds, away from your family and all that goes with the usual travel of all of us who belong to the boxing industry.

On Wednesday I got up at 3:00 a.m. to take the flight to Miami, where I waited three hours to board the flight to Puerto Rico. I arrived at the Island of Enchantment to attend a dinner that ended at midnight.

On Thursday I was up by 7 am, which is 5 am Mexico time, I attended the WBO Convention all day, with many meetings and gatherings, the day closed with the awards dinner as I was in my room getting ready to go to bed, Salvatore Cherchi called me and demanded I came down for the farewell to friends, as you may imagine this ended quite late. Continue reading “A great trip to Puerto Rico and Miami”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

Sad week for Mexican and world sports. One of the greatest baseball players in history, Fernando Valenzuela, has passed away. A great pitcher, a great human being who is now eternal.

Fernando Valenzuela finally rests in peace. These were days of great uncertainty with a lot of concern about fake news and no real information. We pray that God provides consolation and support for his wife Linda, Fernando Jr., and all the family and friends who are going through this difficult time.

Valenzuela achieved what very few do, becoming an idol and impressing a city, state, country, and world with his fabled performances. When Valenzuela pitched, Los Angeles paused, froze, and nothing else mattered. That was called, Fernandomania! Millions of people tell with melancholy, happiness, indelible memories and tears for what The Truly Great Valenzuela meant in their lives.

Even though the Major Leagues did not enthrone him in the Hall of Fame, he is, without doubt, as valuable or more so than any of those who are in Cooperstown for eternity. Continue reading “Goodbye “Toro” Valenzuela”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The emotions and feelings experienced last week are difficult to put into words, but they will remain in my mind and heart for life.

My brother Héctor invited me to visit Holy Father Francis, accompanying Adrián Pallarols, who is the Pope’s goldsmith, and one of the most beloved and closest since his childhood.

It was an unforgettable meeting where he gave us a series of life advice and concepts in a few words and with a lot of meaning. He has a unique ability to synthesize like I had never seen in my life. Continue reading “The Greatness of Holy Father Francis”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

A weekend to remember, with boxing activity at the highest level around the world. Boxing is going through a great moment via superstars in various regions with mega-cards and an endless calendar of superb fights already scheduled, plus others that are a dream for fans.

Mexico presented cards with Televisa from Guadalajara, with Alberto Mora who won the WBC-NABF championship. Televisión Azteca had activity in Hermosillo, where the big surprise occurred as the local idol, Yahir Frank, lost by unanimous decision to the tough and rugged Filipino fighter Jayr Raquinel, who won the WBC continental championship and took away the undefeated status of the Mexican.

The network that is revolutionizing the options for fans in Mexico and Latin America is ESPN Knockout with Disney+, providing a historic weekend as they broadcast the Televisa, TV Azteca, Saudi Arabia, and two Japanese fights, in the early hours of Sunday and Monday. Continue reading “Great Boxing Activity + Judging Lesson”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

I finally returned from a long trip on which I visited London and Madrid with wonderful results.

On one hand, I was present at a majestic boxing event at Wembley Stadium, when the attendance record was broken with 96 thousand fans, and on the other hand, I was where it all begins, in the boxing gyms of Madrid. It was a sensational trip in many ways. I held important meetings with Lennox Lewis and Adrian Ogun, officially presented her green and gold belt to our women’s champion, Caroline Dubois, spent a good time with WBC representatives Geraldine Davies, David Walker, and Ciro Orcini, and had a wonderful meeting with HE Turki Alalshikh and Sela with formidable plans for 2025.

Spain is a very important country for the World Boxing Council, a founding member of the body in 1963, headquarters of the presidency of the European Boxing Union for several decades under the leadership of Don Ruben Martinez, and host country of several annual conventions, in addition to some great champions in history: Jose Legra, Pedro Carrasco, Perico Fernandez, Miguel Velazquez, and the Lince de Parla, Javier Castillejos. Continue reading “The Return of Boxing in Spain”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The heavyweight division will always be the one that moves the world of boxing and sports fans in general.

The world heavyweight champion is considered the most fearsome and powerful man on the planet, ever since the beginning of the sport of fists.

John L. Sullivan was the last heavyweight champion when gloves were not used and fights were bare-knuckle, and he was also the first world heavyweight champion with gloves.

He was a legend, the first athlete in the history of the United States to become a celebrity, and the first to earn a million dollars. Continue reading “Heavyweight Division”

Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / WBC President

I decided to travel to Las Vegas, even during my period of mourning for my dear mother, to accompany our proud Champion Saúl Canelo Álvarez and well deserved challenger Edgar Berlanga in the traditional Mexican Independence Day boxing fest. It was not easy, as I felt out of place at all times, but receiving so much love, kindness and consideration from so many people, was something that gave me great emotion and will live in my memory forever.

Being in the ring, ready to wait for the boxers to come out, Jimmy Lennon called for the attention of the people, and in front of a packed T-Mobile Arena, he expressed some beautiful words about my Mother, while the screens showed photos of her, followed by 10 bell count in honor of her eternal memory. Continue reading “Canelo-Berlanga: What a night for boxing”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

We are starting September, in addition to being the Patriotic Month for Mexico, it is also the time in which two important awareness campaigns are activated worldwide.

The World Boxing Council (WBC), with its global WBC Cares platform, joins in seeking awareness of bullying, as well as the terrible Alzheimer’s disease.

Today I will touch on the first topic. Currently known as bullying, in my time, it was basically systematic mockery, abuse, hooliganism, or the cruel taking advantage of someone vulnerable in various ways.

We were all bullied and we were all bullies at some point in our lives, but that never ends for some and there are those who forge their lives based on this terrible practice.

Bullying is cowardly, vindictive, and those who inflict take advantage of someone else’s condition. Continue reading “Bullying and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

In the many years that I have had the great honor of writing my weekly column, last week was the only time that I couldn’t. Precisely a week ago, the most wonderful woman in the world left us, my Dear and Beloved Mother Martha Saldívar Sulaimán has gone into the path of no return.

There is no age, time or way to die, only those who have already lost their Mother will be able to understand.

A month ago, my Mother played poker with her friends, her greatest pleasure, and everything was normal, after some discomfort that we thought was a matter of changing medications, we took her for tests, and in just 30 minutes our life changed, they told us that the problem was a large and aggressive tumor in the brain.

God is infinite and compassionate. Dona Martha left us in just three weeks. She did not suffer and was surrounded at all times by her six children and 14 grandchildren. Continue reading “Don José, Doña Martha are now together”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
WBC President – Son of José Sulaimán

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have ended, and in my opinion many good things were achieved in general during this, which is the most important event in the world of sports.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has always extremely complicated decisions in its hands, to achieve a balance between what the Olympic Letter says, and the changes it must make to maintain media and ratings interest, in addition to the total financial results and the interest of the new generations, both to practice in various sports and for the audience, to follow these competitions with interest.

I want to share my conclusions about boxing, as this is the sport that is my concern.

Phew! Where to start? As of today, boxing is out of Los Angeles 2028. A titanic task is required, for our sport to be in the Olympic Games in four years. Continue reading “Rescuing Olympic boxing for 2028”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The news that has flooded the networks and has tarnished the activity at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is regrettable, and is clearly exposing the crisis that amateur / Olympic style boxing is going through.

Two female boxers have been accused of being transgender, of having XY chromosomes (male), or some other condition, which when fighting against a woman, gives them an unfair competitive advantage.

The attacks and posts continue. The vast majority without having the minimum elements to express an informed and salient opinion. The central and most serious factor which should matter, is the integrity, safety and well being of the athletes.

The main conflict has been the media war between the IOC and IBA, which was the International Federation recognized by the same entity. They have taken center stage, by attacking each other, in a clear power struggle that will not solve the core issue.

Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting are the fighters in question. Without definitive evidence, they were apparently born XX (female), they are not trans, and apparently they were not born with Y chromosomes, but they do have a genetic condition that gives them significant physical advantages. Continue reading “The inevitable crisis in Olympic boxing”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

Boxing is an ancient sport, it exists by human nature initially to establish supremacy among tribal leaders.

There are traces of it in the vast majority of civilizations in the history of humanity, from Rome, Mesopotamia, Egypt and even Phoenicia, Crete and Greece, just as everything disappeared in the Middle Ages, but re-emerged in England in 1681. However, the country that formed the original Olympics was Greece and also the modern Olympic Games, since 1904.

For more than 300 years, the rules were actually minimal, and it was not until the creation of the WBC, in 1963, that a good number were implemented, in the medical area.

The basis of this sport is that it is structured by divisions corresponding to weight. Originally there were eight (heavyweight to flyweight). Continue reading “The Black Night”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

I was 16 years old, studying in high school at Winchendon School, near Boston, USA, when one day a package arrived in the mail; it was a walkman, the most modern of all gadgets back then, and it came with a card that said “Honda.”

That was my first encounter with the man who is now like my second father, Akihiko Honda, the greatest promoter in the history of all of Asia, and one of the most important in the entire history of boxing, at the level of Don King and Bob Arum. A quiet, respectful and even shy honorable man who is always behind the scenes, regardless of what event it is, a small show at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall or his induction into the International Boxing Hall of fame, it is never about him but about the attention and glory to others, has no ego whatsoever and still does not use a smart phone, rather a flipflop one.

No one has ever spoken negatively about him; He is respected and beloved by everyone in this complex industry, where blows and metaphorical brickbats are often inflicted outside of the ring for reasons of business and interests. Continue reading “Mr. Honda and Teiken Promotions”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

What happened this Saturday in Pennsylvania, United States, shook the entire world in many ways. Donald Trump, former US President and current Presidential candidate, suffered an assassination attempt during a campaign event which he miraculously survived.

An attack of this ghastly nature is of great concern; This has not happened in our neighboring country since 1981, when the then President Ronald Reagan, was shot and seriously wounded. It is unthinkable that even in 2024 this could happen. It is deeply worrying to see how the society we live in is fractured, how social networks are sewing seeds of discord. The violent world in which we live in seems to have no limits. Continue reading “Donald Trump and Boxing”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

One of the greatest concerns my father, José Sulaimán, always had was seeing and lamenting how the vast majority of boxers end their lives in precarious, reduced circumstances and even in misery after having been idols due to their extraordinary performances in the ring.

This phenomenon is by no means exclusive to boxers, as the vast majority of athletes and entertainment personalities have that shadow which silently lurks and stalks them without them realizing it, stealthily creeping up throughout their career and as it winds down.

It is a given fact that many of those who reach the pinnacle of stardom come from humble backgrounds, and that they find in their discipline the opportunity to excel and become someone in life. In boxing, it is an absolute reality. It’s a given that most, if not all boxers come from the tough neighborhoods of their city in every country throughout the world. Continue reading “The End of a Boxer’s Career”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The first half of this historic 2024 ended, with a more than positive balance for world boxing. Never before has there been a situation like the one, we are currently experiencing, in which many fighters claim to hold the famous term best pound for pound. Lets take a look at some of them and see what you think: Continue reading “First half of the year”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The sport of fists has always existed, and over the centuries it has transformed, but the reality is that it was always a wild one, brutal, virtually inhuman and harboring significant risk to the contestants. There were basic rules of the sport, but for many years there was nothing with reference to the physical integrity of the participants, their safety and health.

When my dad accepted the Presidency of the World Boxing Council, he did so conditionally on starting a revolution and transformation, to implement safety measures, changes to the regulations, and fight against all types of abuse of power and discrimination. Continue reading “Medical Investigation, Research and WBC Actions”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

Last Saturday the 100th boxing event took place in the venue that, without a doubt, is the most important in world boxing: the famous and legendary MGM Grand Arena.

The MGM Grand Hotel opened at the end of 1993 and was a spectacular attraction, it became the hotel with the largest number of rooms in the world 5005; in addition to having an amusement park.

The first boxing card was promoted by Don King and aired on Showtime on January 29, 1994, and this marked the beginning of the unforgettable nights that have been experienced: Julio César Chávez, the great Mexican champion, then considered invincible, visited the canvas and lost his undefeated status and WBC Super lightweight championship on his 90th fight, against Frankie Randall. Continue reading “100 Nights of Glory of the MGM Grand”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

Once again, I entered the time warp sun beamed, by the magic of attending a card promoted by the legendary one and only Don King, still going strong at 92 years of age, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Florida.

Everything that is his creation has a different unique vibe, and that’s just how I felt back in the ’80s.

I found people I hadn’t seen in years, their press conference and weigh-in with their unique touch, and a kilometer boxing show of 13 fights, 120 scheduled rounds, and with boxing from 3:30 in the afternoon until midnight. A Bonanza Box.

Don King looks happy, yet quiet and perhaps a little tired, but if a microphone with a camera is suddenly held up to him, that promotional genius revives, energizes and he talks until he can’t. Continue reading “Don King’s Florida Card and Boxing Hall of Fame”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

A very poignantly sad week for the Mexican boxing community, after the loss of two dear people beloved by us all.

Dr. José Luis Ibarra finally lost his battle against cancer, after fighting heroically and having won many rounds, being in the process of recovery; including attending our Acapulco Convention at the end of 2022 to receive an award for his bravery, and then being present at the Saúl Canelo Álvarez fight last year in Guadalajara. Continue reading “Boxing season concluded in Riyadh”