By Mauricio SulaimánSon of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC
One other yr is ending, a cycle closing, solely to open one other one. A 2024 that was marked and distinguished by so many issues in my private, skilled, household life and in addition as a Mexican. I’m going to dedicate this column to recount what 2024 was like for me…
On August 18, my beloved mom left us. I now not have a father or mom. Now, my siblings and I are the technology to proceed the Sulaimán Saldívar household, together with our youngsters and sooner or later the grandchildren will arrive. The departure of my mom introduced us an outpouring of affection and unity from household, mates and even strangers, as a result of she left an incredible mark by sowing, producing and harvesting love, affection, friendship, consideration and kindness.
In February and October I had the good fortune to go to the Holy Father Francisco within the firm of my brother Héctor and our pricey Adrián Pallarols; Two unforgettable and enriching encounters, with nice studying gleaned from the non secular chief of humanity.
In July, Mexico voted to elect Claudia Sheinbaum as President of our nation. I’ve had the good honor of taking part in numerous boxing actions and social accountability packages guided and united by way of her management.
In June, I used to be current at maybe the final promotion of the legendary man with the raised hair. Don King, who at 93 years outdated, placed on a memorable card on the Laborious Rock in Miami.
I visited Thailand in January to witness the WBC Muaythai World Pageant, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the institution of this program that my father began on the request of the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej.
I used to be current within the Philippines for the primary annual awards dinner of the household of Flash Elorde and the legend Manny Pacquiao.
I missed the large struggle between Mexican idol Saul Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, as a result of on Might fifth my son Jose graduated with highest honors from the college, giving us nice satisfaction and pleasure for his dedication and willpower to be somebody in life.
I witnessed the most effective heavyweight fights in historical past, when Tyson Fury misplaced his WBC world championship and Oleksander Usyk grew to become UNDISPUTED champion in an epic battle stuffed with drama in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I returned to that nation to see the rematch on December twenty first and though it was not as dramatic a struggle as the primary, it was a memorable encounter that Usyk received once more.
In January, I held a gathering with an important promoters on the earth of boxing. This Promoters Summit was very productive and managed to convey them collectively within the a lot wanted unity for agreements and reciprocity. Bob Arum, Matchroom, Tom Brown and Luis de Cubas from PBC, Salvatore Cherchi, Fernando Beltran, Tom Loeffler and others have been there.
I had an unforgettable assembly with wounded troopers from Ukraine, who have been delivered to Riyadh to observe the struggle; I spoke with them, they got WBC kits and we confirmed the World Boxing Council’s unconditional assist for peace. We proceeded with a donation of 250 thousand {dollars} promised to Pope Francis for use for kids in Ukraine and Gaza.
An settlement was signed with His Excellency Turki Alalshik for all kinds of social accountability activations at a worldwide degree, with the collaboration of WBC and Riyadh Season.
I held a gathering with the leaders of World Boxing and its president Boris Van Der Vorst, to verify our assist to hunt recognition from the Worldwide Olympic Committee and thus assure that boxing continues within the Olympic Video games.
We collaborated to rejoice the a hundredth struggle card of the MGM enviornment in its 30 years of existence, remembering the good battles and luxurious classics held there with Tyson, Chavez, Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Pacquiao, De la Hoya, Canelo, Mayweather and so many extra.
I used to be current on the induction of my pal Ana Maria Torres within the Corridor of Fame in Canastota.
We held a medical congress in Orizaba Veracruz Mexico with the presence of greater than 150 medical doctors.
I used to be honored with the State Sports activities Award in Mexico Metropolis in December.
I used to be known as to be a counselor of the Chapultepec Zoo Belief within the firm of honorable colleagues from Mexican society.
I used to be in Japan for a superb struggle card, the place Junto Nakatani efficiently defended his world championship.
I had the satisfaction of visiting Miss Nagano who at 99 years outdated, continues to run the Teiken Health club of my beloved Mr. Honda.
I used to be in Spain for a collection of conferences with numerous teams to hunt the relaunch of boxing in that nation.
I managed to determine a really particular friendship with David Summers, singer of Hombres G and his household.
We celebrated with nice outcomes the interdependence boxing event organized by the Secretariat of Citizen Safety in Mexico.
We held our annual Conference in Hamburg, Germany. An unforgettable assembly during which the world of boxing mixed and united, to guage what was achieved in the course of the yr and plan forward about what to do within the coming twelve months.
The Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix was signed. A event that might be held throughout 2025 with 5 occasions in Saudi Arabia; 32 fighters in 4 divisions (featherweight, tremendous light-weight, middleweight and heavyweight) is the World Cup that my father dreamed of holding. Now, with the assist of Turki Alalshik it’s a tangible actuality.
I managed to get nearer to one of many idols of my life, the creator of Pink Floyd, Roger Waters and the singer of Scorpions, Klaus Meine. Each obtained the peace award from the WBC.
Do you know?
Boxing is off the record of sports activities for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and there is just one likelihood left to rescue it, to attain the affiliation of nations to World Boxing who already has the assist of the IOC.
Right now’s anecdote…
I used to be born on December 30, 1969. My mom was a warrior, as a result of she had six kids, all of them pure births. On the thirtieth, the nurses informed her to carry on in order that I’d be born on January 1st as a result of that method she would obtain many presents from many locations. My father requested her, “How do you maintain on, outdated girl? What? It’s like I’m loopy, I’m prepared and also you’re there consuming mango watching me as if nothing occurred… Throughout my complete childhood I suffered as a result of nobody congratulated me, they didn’t give me presents as a result of they have been blended with Christmas presents. There was no get together as a result of everybody was getting ready for the New 12 months. Nevertheless, what I by no means lacked was the love and love of my dad and mom within the firm of our household in Ciudad Valles with my grandfather Elías. These days, with social networks and Fb reminders, everybody talks to me and makes me really feel very pleased.
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