By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman / President of the WBC
This coming Saturday, August 21, Manny Pacquiao will step into the ring in search of a triumphant return. He was scheduled to fight WBC and IBF world champion, undefeated American Errol Spence Jr.
Unfortunately, during the mandatory exams that boxers must undergo, an injury was detected in the retina of Spence’s left eye and he had to undergo surgery, which is going to keep him out of the ring for some time. Now, Pacquiao will face Cuban Yordenis Ugás.
I received an emotional letter from our champion Errol Spence Jr., in which he thanks the World Boxing Council (WBC) for giving him the support to keep him as champion; the easy way out would have been to sanction Pacquiao vs. Ugas for our title. Or also to open an interim, but it was not like that. The WBC ratified support for him, and the medical report was satisfactory, so he will return to the ring as soon as healed and safely possible.
The welterweight division is perhaps the most talented at the moment, and there are a lot of fights that could take place in the months and years to come. Hopefully the promoters will get it right and they will give the fans what they deserve: the greatest fights.
· Errol Spence Jr.: WBC and IBF world champion
· Terence Crawford: WBO champion
· Yordenis Ugás: WBA champion
Other talents in the division: Manny Pacquiao, Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia, Vergil Ortiz and Keith Thurman. All are world-class fighters.
The welterweight division is one of the fans’ favorites, as it has the combination of speed, skill and punching power. Legendary champions made their careers in this division: from Sugar Ray Robinson to the current champion Spence Jr. We remember some of the greats in chronological order: Emile Griffith, Jose Mantequilla Napoles, Carlos Palomino, Wilfredo Benítez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar de la Hoya, Tito Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, among many others.
Other great welters were Mexican Pipino Cuevas and American Tommy Hearns.
Coming back to Manny, his career has been one of the most brilliant. With a 62-7-2 record and 26 years as a professional, he is the only one who can said he has titles in eight different divisions.
Pacquiao began his championship path by winning the Pacific Federation (OPBF) WBC regional belt in 1995, and in 1998, he conquered the WBC world flyweight championship! He had so much trouble making weight that he moved up three divisions to super bantamweight, where he won and then defended his WBC International title six times (1999-2001). Fate led him to fight in the U.S. and he won the IBF belt. Later, moving up to featherweight, he drew with Juan Manuel Márquez in the first of four epic bouts with him.
Manny managed to position himself globally the day he defeated Érik Morales to win the WBC International Super Featherweight Championship in a highly-anticipated rematch; He fought El “Terrible” Morales one more time and knocked him out in three rounds when clearly the Mexican could not viably make that weight any longer.
The second fight against Marquez was in 2008, when he won the WBC super featherweight belt by split decision. In his next fight, he knocked out David Diaz and took the lightweight belt. That same year he defeated Oscar De La Hoya, when everyone had the “Golden Boy” as favorite.
In 2009, he knocked out Miguel Cotto; this was the first time the diamond belt was presented and awarded. Finally, in 2010, he won the WBC super welterweight world championship from Mexico’s Antonio Margarito.
Five years passed, and during that time the most anticipated fight in the last year was formulating, so he finally faced Floyd Mayweather Jr., a match that broke and holds all boxing box office, pay-per-view and total gross boxing records.
We wish Manny the best of luck this Saturday and it would be wonderful if he closed his cycle contesting the WBC Green and Gold belt that has accompanied him throughout his career.
Did you know…?
The first world champion of the WBC era was Emile Griffith and the first champion in the era of José Sulaimán was British John H. Stracey, who defeated the beloved Mantequilla Napoles by KO in the Plaza de Toros México on December 6, 1975, just one day after my father’s election as President of the WBC in Tunisia.
Today’s anecdote…
Top Rank, Zanfer and TV Azteca brought Pacquiao to Mexico to promote his fight to be held at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
My dad taught me passion for the Cowboys since I was a child. Jerry Jones came to this conference, and at the end of it we were invited to a memorable meal at Televisión Azteca, with the executives in charge of boxing. Bob Arum, Todd Duboef, Fernando Beltrán, Don José and I enjoyed a banquet. My dad drank very little, but he was so happy to be with the owner of the Vaqueros and Arum that he had with them a few tequilas.
Bob and my dad had many differences and for many years they were even enemies. After some emotional words directed by Don José, Arum stood up, and hugged him and gave him a kiss! Thus making this evening unforgettable.
I appreciate your comments at [email protected].
Spence should be kept as champion of the WBC, especially if they would put Mikey Garcia up to fight for a vacant title. Mikey Garcia looked good for 1 or 2 rounds vs Spence, but clearly lost 9 or 10 rounds there. Spence may have to retire, but he hasn’t been WBC champion that long. The IBF belt should go vacant, because they have had a mandatory there for 2.5 years. Ortiz jr vs Danny Garcia would work for me as a vacant WBC title fight, if Ortiz Jr. won, he could fight Mikey Garcia. Keith Thurman has been inactive for too long, and should move up to 154. Spence probably should retire, he’d have to have 2 tune up fights before a mega fight opportunity again, and he’d be 33 by then.
So no super title for Manny eh? Only for Canelo? Smh
Im gald Jose cleared up this whole fake injury the haters are talking about, and that includes on this website. The injury was found during a prefight medical examination. Which means the doctors and the commission would have to be in on the lie. If Spence name didnt “move the needle” you best believe he would not have been able to keep his belt. Sure he would love a cash cow like Paq holding the belt but Spence maybe the future.
“My dad taught me passion for the Cowboys since I was a child”
LMAO
Good point. It is very possible the retina tear may have been minor and discovered upon examination. No doubt. Spence may not have had symptoms of the retina tear and he felt fine. Have a great today. 🙂
What he should have said is; My dad taught me how to be corrupt and keep The World Boxing Cartel going…..
Spence was just looking for a way out. An injury always works. The scout report was that wasn’t looking good in sparring.
See folks this is why reading is fundamental. The article JUST explained Spence’s injury was discovered through a mandatory examination boxers go through. He didn’t pull the injury out of his arse. READ my man, READ..
I would shake my head, say my favorite cuss word and smile like a kid in a candy shop if Manny defeated the following fighters before retiring:
1) Ugas;
2) Crawford; and
3) Spence, Jr. (if he is able to fight by this time).
Folks, when PacMan retires, I will deeply miss his great ring efforts; and I am pretty sure I will take a day off work to overcome not seeing him fight anymore. In other words, I am going fishing.
One thing is for sure in life; any era comes to an ending. Fighters come and go. Life and age get in the way.
Enjoy your fishing when you go!
This is a great article because it addresses the circumstance in which Spence found out about his injury.
Evidently reading isn’t fundamental as some still believe Spence was trying to get out of the fight.
I hate to admit it, but if you look past the usual WBC bullsh%t, this article was a good read.
Hard to look past it however.
They forgot to add that Pacman has put the welterweight division on notice that he feels like he is 30 years old again.