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Philippines, 04 Jul 2025 |
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Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Weekend at the International Boxing Hall Of Fame By Mauricio Sulaimán PhilBoxing.com Thu, 12 Jun 2025  Canastota is a small town north of New York where the World Boxing Hall of Fame was established. Carmen Basilio, one of the great champions in the 1950s, was the inspiration. A small niche with a robe, gloves, and a plaque were placed in a corner on the street. Years went by, the dream kept growing and eventually a house was built to host the Hall of Fame, an additional structure, and all that remains of the hallowed place of immortality to this day. With the leadership of Ed Brophy, his family and hundreds of volunteers, the International Boxing Hall of Fame has established itself as the most important epicenter in our sport. Every year, the induction ceremony takes place in which fighters, as well as promoters, managers, journalists, commissioners, and officials, are enshrined for eternity. I have had the great fortune to be present on many occasions and I can say that the activities that take place are magical. The camaraderie and the sense of belonging experienced among those in attendance is pure, sincere, and creates memories that remain etched in the heart. It was great to see most ring officials from Nevada attending in support of their colleague Kenny Bayless, to see fans from Rhode Island show up only to have Vinny Paz in tears to see friends he had not seen in 20 years. Every moment was magical. We were all feeling special. We were not in Canastota. Not the U.S.A. We were in the capital of the world of boxing for the week of induction. The world together because of boxing. Getting to Canastota isn’t easy, but fans from all over the world gather here to pay tribute to those who are forever great. The hope is to get a photo, an autograph, shake hands, or simply be close to the legends. The life of every boxer is a script for a Hollywood movie, and this class of 2025 has some examples in particular that confirm this. Manny Pacquiao is the ultimate celebrity of this generation, and his speech said it all: “From being a street kid, eating out of the garbage, to being in this luxurious hall in the company of so many boxing luminaries, the press, and the best fans. I can only look up and thank God.” Vinny Paz, a New England boxer who had been on the list for years, anxiously waiting to receive the call. The Pazmanian Devil was a fierce champion who was involved in a terrible road traffic accident as a passenger in a car. Doctors told him he had a limited chance of walking again, but he stared at them and defiantly asserted that he wouldn’t just walk, he would box again. A couple of years later, he became a world champion again. A triumph of determination, mindset, and willpower. Mexican Jessica “Kika” Chávez gave a beautiful speech. She brought the audience to tears as she stated how the sacrifice of her parents and the motivation of her young daughter, Alondra, had led her to enter a place she had never imagined. The first time I attended was in 1995, when Don King was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with my idol, Sugar Ray Leonard. Don flew dozens of his champions in to surround him with love and support on that occasion: Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton, Roberto Durán, Ricardo López, and an impressive list of legends. Entering the Hall of Fame was one of my father, Jose Sulaimán’s happiest days. Being President of the World Boxing Council is not a very popular activity. Criticism and pressure are commonplace, and it’s difficult to recognize how much one does for boxing and the boxer, because logically, the work in the ring is what is appreciated and what matters in general. I experienced the process firsthand with Don Jose. We traveled with the family, his closest collaborators, Don Víctor Cota, Poncho Díaz, Federico Enriquez, and Eduardo Lamazón, some friends from the media, José Luis Camarillo, and his greatest inspiration, Raúl “Ratón” Macias. In his speech, he dedicated to mentioning everyone, sharing anecdotes, and thanking those he always called his children, the boxers of the world. It even remains a memory of his being the record for the longest speech. That time, Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, Pernell Whitaker, Ricardo López, and Amílcar Brusa were enthroned! One of the most incredible generations was that of 2011: Mike Tyson, Julio César Chávez, Kostya Tzyu, and Sylvester Stallone. A great memory for eternity! Every human being works to transcend, and it’s everyone’s dream to one day be recognized. Entering the Hall of Fame is the ultimate culmination of a life full of sacrifice, dedication, and hard work. It’s the moment to become immortal. Any boxing fan, any person associated with boxing, should always try its best effort to be there. It is magical. Did you know…? Mexico is represented in Canastota by 27 greats: Marco Antonio Barrera, Miguel Canto, Julio César Chávez, Pipino Cuevas, Óscar de la Hoya, Humberto González, Ricardo López, Érik Morales, José Nápoles, Rubén Olivares, Carlos Palomino, Lupe Pintor, Ultiminio Ramos, Vicente Saldívar, Salvador Sánchez, Daniel Zaragoza, Carlos Zárate, Juan Manuel Márquez, Rafael Márquez, and Baby Arizmendi. Champions: Laura Serrano, Ana María Torres, Yessica Chávez, Ignacio Beristáin, Arturo Hernández, Rafael Mendoza, and José Sulaimán. Today’s Anecdote When we traveled for my father’s induction, we flew from Mexico City to Atlanta and from there to Syracuse, where we stayed. Alfonso Díaz, our soulmate, was in charge of accompanying Ratón Macías, who was already suffering from the effects of dementia. The champ’s suitcase never arrived, and the next morning he showed up for breakfast wearing an oversized outfit which belonged to Alfonso. My dad asked him about his outfit, and Macias replied, “Pepe, just look at these horrible clothes they left me in my room. I had to put them on.” Poor Poncho had to accept the comment, to the laughter of Don José. I welcome your comments contact@wbcboxing.com. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mauricio Sulaimán.  |
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