Philippines, 04 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Sulaiman: Mexico lost a great, loving father


PhilBoxing.com




HE failed to push it even half a kilometer away from being classified as the red-light district of sports, but it?s hard to imagine where professional boxing would?ve ended up without Don Jose Sulaiman.

Sulaiman, 82, lost his life last Friday in California.
He had undergone heart surgery at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center last October.

**

Veteran broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz, a great admirer and ally of Sulaiman, said there was an outpouring of grief and sympathy from world boxing greats and plain Mexican fans.

Sulaiman?s remains were scheduled for cremation at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico, following a daytime Mass yesterday.
Among the notables who extolled Sulaiman was the legendary Mexican warrior Julio Cesar Chavez, who swore ?Mexico would?ve not have had so many world champions and successful fighters without Don Jose.?

**

Sulaiman was not any way a boxing trainer.

He was a former amateur boxer who next worked as a referee.
But he will be fondly remembered as an innovative leader who had always sincerely strived for the technical development of boxing, working hard in order for the sport to be less dangerous and brutal.

**

Sulaiman was mainly responsible for cutting the old 15-round title fight down to 12.

He also made it possible for official weigh-ins to be held at least 24 hours before the fight proper, not in the same morning of the championship bout.

He introduced in-between divisions--like junior featherweight, light welterweight, etc-- to protect the health of less hefy fighters.

**

Don Jose was in the Philippines in 1996 for the Battle of Manila Bay WBC featherweight championship at the Rizal Park between Luisito Espinosa of the Philippines and Cesar Soto of Mexico.
Upon arriving in Manila, there were two persons he readily sought out: lawyer Rudy Salud and former world flyweigrht champion Erbito Salavarria.

Sulaiman had worked under Salud, who drafted the WBC Constitution and crafted its rules and regulations.

Don Jose had always deferred to Salud as Rodrigo, his senior in the WBC ratings committee.

**

?Salavarria is the finest Filipino boxer I?ve ever known,? Sulaiman confided to this reporter, who next hunted for Erbito unsuccessfully.

Salavarria annexed the WBC flyweight title in Dec 1970 in Bangkok by stopping Thai hero Chartchai Chionoi in the second round, with King Adulyadeh Bhumibol in the audience.

It must?ve been that stoppage-- sharp and neat, clinical and bloodless--which had readily endeared Salavarria to Sulaiman.

**

Sulaiman was also an admirer of Manny Pacquiao, but he could not hide his hurt each time Pacquiao would beat a Mexican warrior. Born of Lebanese and Syrian parents, Sulaiman was Mexican as tequila and chili con carne when it came to boxing.

In fact, Don Jose was a leading petitioner who kept imploring Juan Manuel Marquez not to allow himself to be lured into a fifth bout with Pacquiao.

**

No need to emphasize anymore how Marquez had fully restored Mexican honor?which for years had been slurred with Pacquiao?s sensational streak over Latino warriors?with that cold-blooded sixth-round stoppage of the Filipino hero in December 2012.
Sulaiman had fought and begged for that regained honor never to be squandered.

This could be one of the reasons Marquez had kept away from Pacquiao, despite the mouth-watering multi-million dollar offers.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • No issues with fight ref
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.