Sports Eye
Remembering WBC prexy Sulaiman
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
IF you are really a boxing aficionado, I have no doubt that you already heard or know who Mr. Jose Sulaiman is. He was the Mexico-born fellow with Lebanese and Syrian parents who handled the World Boxing Council (WBC) presidency over a span of 38 years. After a heart surgery last October he eventually died last January 17 at the age of 82.
The guy loved the Philippines so much that he visited our country many times, especially during world title fights. The memorable ones were the world renowned “Thrilla in Manila” WBC heavyweight title fight between the loquacious Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier held at the Araneta Coliseum in 1975. And the last was the WBC Annual Convention in November 2007 hosted by then Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain held at the historic Manila Hotel.
The last time he came here, he said he’s a big fan of two Filipino boxing greats, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, not only because they are classy boxers but generous to other people. He described Elorde as the greatest world junior lightweight (130 lbs.) champion of all-time alongside the stylish Nicaraguan ring warrior Alexis Arguello. The WBC by his strong recommendation elected the two to the prestigious “Hall of Fame” while he honored Pacquiao as “Fighter of the Decade”. Don Jose, as fondly called, once said, “I think Flash Elorde stands in the WBC as an example to the young people of the world especially the people of the Philippines and I take this opportunity to send to his family and the Filipino people my thanks for having had such a great boxer and also my hero.”
Sulaiman, before stepping into the highest post of WBC, was first involved in sports as an amateur fighter during his youth. Later he became a trainer, referee, judge, and even a promoter. But because of his endless love for boxing, he was eventually elected as WBC president in December 1975 when the late Justiniano Montano Jr. of the Philippines declined to serve for another term. He became a bosom buddy of the late Rudy Salud, the lawyer who crafted the constitutions and by-laws of the WBC.
It was under Sulaiman’s leadership that innovations were introduced and established. One was ensuring the safety of professional boxers by reducing the world championship fights from the brutal 15 rounds to a less-cruel 12 with the official weigh-in to take place 24 hours before the bout and not on the same day prior to the clash. Sulaiman was also the instrument in the creation of intermediate divisions and also founded the World Medical Congress. Don Jose, who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in June 2007, also succeeded in convincing the communist country China to engage in professional boxing and China has now produced a WBC minimum weight (106 lbs.) titleholder in the person of Xiong Zhao Zhong who defeated Mexican Javier Resendiz during a fight held in Kunming, China on November 24, 2012.
In fact, China, which prohibited professional boxing before, has another potential world pro champion named Zou Shimming. The two-time Olympic gold medalist Shiming fought in the undercard for the Pacquiao- Brandon Rios fight in Macau last November 24 and defeated Mexican Juan Tozcano, his third in-a-row sans loss.
During the last days, Sulaiman tried to bring open boxing to the world among them China. He believed that within 25 to 50 years from now, China will top pro boxing or at least be close to being number one. The WBC Annual Convention is held before or just after the Olympic Games but unfortunately, Sulaiman is already gone, and his planned innovation to accept professional boxers in the Olympics could be scrapped — it will all now depend on his successor. His son Mauricio, the concurrent WBC executive secretary, is being groomed to inherit the crown from his father through election. But that would be a tough task because other members of the WBC board are also aiming for the position. Let’s just wait and see. The demise of Don Jose is certainly a big blow to world pro boxing. For sure the boxing world will miss him. And as a half Mexican and a boxing lover, I will miss him too. Adios Don Jose, and may the good Lord God give you good rest where you belong now. Amen.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” REVELATION 3: 20-21
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