This is no knock on what Jose Sulaiman and the WBC have accomplished with their world-wide humanitarian efforts. It?s about their bylaws and what is wrong with boxing. Stripping Timothy Bradley last week of his 140-pound title, proudly earned, is the issue, as is so many of the other decisions that the WBC has made over the years.
And this is not to say that the Mexican based World Boxing Council, under decades of Sulaiman leadership, should not follow their bylaws. They established rules as a sanctioning governing body in the sport, rules that are unjustified and similar to the other alphabet soup organizations that dominate the sport that being the WBA, IBF, WBO, and others. You get the picture, the fighters are trapped and the promoters and managers have to abide by the rules. However, in the end, it is not good for boxing or the fighters who make the sport what it is.
It can all be corrected, as has been the opinion here many times, with the establishment of a national governing body, a national boxing commission that would set the rules and intervene with the sanctioning bodies of the sport. All other major sports have a commissioner in place that deal with issues and intervene, in this case, with the owners and players unions.
But that is neither here or there, because the issue of a national boxing commission is debatable, political, and boxing does not need more politics that already is in place. The politics in place is with the sanctioning organizations that end up making the rules for championship fights. They have jurisdiction and get the purse allocations from the promoters, fighters and managers. And until otherwise this system will continue to exist.
Here is a reaction from Mr. Sulaiman that has come due to the Bradley situation, published here the past few days. And the views expressed here were also said by other critics regarding the WBC decision to strip Bradley. Again a perspective that has nothing to do with the non- boxing efforts of the WBC and their exposure as a world-wide organization which is all good and the WBC should be commended.
And this is not a vendetta against Sulaiman, a family man who loves the sport of boxing. This writer has known the WBC head for years at ringside for Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns, to Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, to Aaron Pryor versus Alexis Arguello. It has to do with the bylaws of the WBC and a fighter like Bradley who becomes the victim.
He says Sulaiman, ?The WBC has rules that must be respected. A red light means to stop your car or get fined. Six months of inactivity for a champion to keep his title, as there are many listed waiting for the opportunity. Bradley is a great fighter, and a WBC pride, when he is ready to return, he will have our doors opened while other rated fighters fight for the frozen title.?
Bradley, by decision or from a contract dispute with his co-promoter, Gary Shaw, opted to bypass a good opportunity to fight Amir Khan. Whether it was ducking an opponent, or for that matter not ready for the fight, Shaw was denied an opportunity to cash a good check. Aware, as we all know, that the promoters also take a good portion of the purse, television and gate revenues.
To punish Bradley for being inactive, six months, is a bylaw that the WBC should review. Yes, there should be a limit as to defending a title, perhaps six months could be waived and amended to not exceed a year. But it is understandable that boxing needs good championship fights. A champion staying inactive for an extended length of time, holding in this case the WBC title, needs to defend or vacate.
Bradley did not vacate the title. It was taken from him, and that is the issue that needs to be reviewed. He was informed by letter delivered from the U.S, Postal Service. A title earned and gone, even if Bradley has ambitions of moving to 147, though an account from Bradley due to his inactivity still needs clarification. Boxing needs serious reform and this is another situation.
Yes, Mr. Sulaiman has every right to defend his record. This has nothing to do with the WBC reportedly allocating over a million dollars for head injury research, and pension plans to former champions in need such as Emile Griffith, Wilfredo Benitez and others who are in need. The 24-hour pre-fight weigh in are questionable because at fight time we have seen a seven or ten- pound weight advantage from the day before. And an old school cynic can understand the safety issue, but championship fights should have never been changed from a 15-pound to 12-round limit. The 15-round fight was what it was all about when discussing the rich and great history of the sport.
