WBC PRESIDENT SULAIMAN HAS PASSED AWAY

A good friend of the Philippines and supporter of Filipino boxers through the years, Sulaiman succeeded the late Justiniano Montano Jr, the former chairman of the Games and Amusements Board as president of the pre-eminent boxing organization in the world whose constitution and by-laws were crafted by the late Rudy Salud, the WBC’s first secretary general who was a close friend of Don Jose who worked with Salud when the esteemed Filipino was chairman of the Ratings Committee.

Sulaiman was unanimously elected WBC president in December 1975.

Sulaiman last visited the Philippines during the highly successful WBC Annual Convention hosted by then GAB chairman Eric Buhain in November 2007 and had an most enjoyable lunch with Salud’s family in his home in La Vista.

It was the abiding friendship between Sulaiman and Salud that enabled former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa to remain as No. 1 flyweight contender despite two controversial losses which Sulaiman recognized and gave Penalosa, based on the appeals of Salud, successive shots at the world title.

In one of his last acts, Don Jose elevated “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao to No.1 welterweight contender in an effort to push champion Floyd Mayweather Jr into facing the Filipino sports hero in a fight the world has long wanted to see. But Mayweather balked and even indicated he would relinquish the title.

Sulaiman, in one of our many overseas telephone conversations told us he was quietly trying to move negotiations forward to get the megabuck fight to happen but he passed away before his efforts bore fruit, if they ever will.

Pacquiao was a particular favorite of Sulaiman who always told us that Manny may have won the belts of other organizations but he would always remember him as a WBC champion whose first title was the famous green and gold belt he won with a spectacular 8th round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul on December 3, 1998 on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Don Jose underwent major heart surgery at the UCLA Medical Center last October and after an early setback, his son and WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman told us he had apparently, like a true fighter, turned things around. But Mauricio disclosed he had suffered complications and in the end succumbed.

The delicate surgery, his age and his bulk ultimately took its toll on the legendary WBC president who has done more to strengthen the WBC and to enhance the sport of boxing than any other individual.

A Mexican of Lebanese descent Don Jose Sulaiman fought tooth and nail to prevent the world amateur boxing organization's efforts to encroach on the pro ranks and discriminate against professional boxers who declined to come under the AIBA aegis.

Sulaiman was an amateur boxer and later became a trainer, referee, judge and even a promoter. He made his mark as an administrator who earned the support and respect of not only the board of directors of the WBC but also the top executives of various boxing organizations.

It was under Sulaiman’s stewardship that several new measures were introduced to ensure greater safety for boxers and to look after their post-career lives.

One of the major changes was reducing world championship bouts from 15 rounds to 12 with the official weigh–in taking place 24 hours prior to a fight.

Sulaiman was instrumental in the creation of intermediate weight divisions while one of his crucial efforts was geared towards the establishment of the World Medical Congress.

He ensured the funding for a brain research program at UCLA and under his dynamic leadership the WBC broadened its global reach to include over 160 affiliated national organizations. In his time the WBC sanctioned over 1,100 world title fights.

Don Jose was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2007.

In November 2007 we had a lengthy TV interview with Don Jose Sulaiman in which he made what we felt was an emotional statement and spoke of his desire to bring China into the mainstream of pro boxing.

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