The president of the World Boxing Council, Jose Sulaiman, passed away this afternoon. The organization confirmed the news via Twiter after posting the following message, “We deeply regret to inform the passing away of our dearest president Don Jose Sulaiman, may he rest in peace.” According to reports, after undergoing heart surgery in October, Sulaiman suffered complications that had him in critical condition for more than 100 days at the UCLA Medical Center. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Under Sulaiman’s tenure as president since December of 1975, the World Boxing Council ushered in a number of new rules and regulations focusing on the safety of fighters, including the reduction of rounds from 15 to 12, weigh-ins 24 hours prior to a bout, regulated attached thumb gloves, intermediate weight divisions, and instant replay. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 10, 2007.
