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WBC PRESIDENT SULAIMAN HAS PASSED AWAY By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 17 Jan 2014  Sulaiman. World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman has passed away at the age of 82. 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. He said ?I believe that I am much more close to my end than my beginning ? I don?t know how many years of my life my God will give me. But I will dedicate the last days of my life to bring open boxing to the world. China within 25 to 50 years I believe will be the No. 1 country or close to No. 1 of the world. The opportunities in China are unlimited. The potential for the financial structure of any body is very, very fair. The WBC is holding its 46th convention next year right after the Olympic Games. They will probably after that and during our convention accept professional boxing also as official. As of today it does not exist. If China goes to that and after having seven finalists in the amateur tournament for the Olympic Games I believe that the future of China is unlimited.? In praising the Philippines hosting of the 2007 WBC Convention at the historic Manila Hotel Sulaiman told us ? ?We have never had a convention with this organization. Everything to the second. Everything in good order. Never have we thought that it was going to happen here. When I came here for the first time for the ?Thrilla in Manila? it was the first time I knew the Philippines. After that I?ve been very close. I am very grateful, very happy to see so many smiling faces of the Filipino. To see how they love boxing, how they love the heroes of boxing... how they bring Manny upwards like a phantom that will be the role model for many other Filipinos to get to his position. I am very appreciative and I hope that the WBC will leave a mark in the Philippines and from here boxing will go to a better direction?a direction of unity - direction of liberty- no monopoly ? opportunities for all. I hope that we can accomplish more rules for justice and for the sake of the sport.? In a reference to his dear friend the late Rudy Salud who was given the ?Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala dinner, Sulaiman said ?Rodrigo Salud was the person that inherited to me the secretary general of the WBC. I watched him working in the WBC conventions and he has been my mentor because his style, his mental attitude, the way of approaching things is what I really learned from this man ? a man who is a great Filipino and for that reason we came to his own home to tell the world and the Philippines that you have a great man that has left a great mark of his passing through life in the sport of boxing. I really like this man, admire him.? Sulaiman?s biggest hero was former world junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde and in 1963 the WBC elected Elorde as one of the greatest and inscribed it in the history and the Hall of Fame of the WBC Elorde went to New York, the United Nations where the WBC held a ceremony and Elorde, in the words of Sulaiman, ?received the WBC championship belt with great honor and believe me with tears. When I went to his home the other night for dinner to the gymnasium I was so happy to see in a very special place the green and gold belt that the great Flash Elorde received in 1963.? 
Sulaiman opens the WBC Convention at the Manila Hotel in 2007. 
Sulaiman (L) with Manny Pacquiao. 
Sulaiman with Mandela. In ending our lengthy conversation the amiable WBC president told us ?I hope you understand that I am a very humble person. I am very friendly and frank. I never speak what I don?t think. I want to help people. I live to serve other people. I am also a warrior. I?m a fighter and when I see the abuse of authority and when I see monopoly when I see that there is something that the rest of the world must fight, I fight. Don Jose Sulaiman eventually lost the good fight but he went the distance with a fighting heart, a buoyant spirit and remarkable care and concern for the fighters who brought joy and excitement to millions of fans around the world and a sport which he loved with unbridled passion. A true personal friend and a friend of Philippine boxing has passed away. May he enter the ring in the heavens and may God embrace him, like many of us did because, in the end, when you weigh his life you will realize that Don Jose was essentially a good man and someone we were privileged to call a friend. Farewell and God bless and our sincere condolences to Mauricio and the family of Don Jose. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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