WBC PRESIDENT MAURICIO SULAIMAN ON ?THE BEAUTY OF BEING IMMPORTAL?
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Jun 2016
World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman has penned a touching piece on the late Muhammad Ali, the greatest heavyweight champion of all-time and a legendary human being
whom Filipinos admired and loved and who he often loved back in fact telling us who was his liaison officer during the famous ?Thrilla in Manila? that he wanted to return to the Philippines anmd live here because the country was so beautiful and the people so warm and friendly.
But with his struggle for over 30 years by the debilitating Parkinson?s disease he couldn?t fulfill
that wish.
Here is the article by Mauricio Sulaiman.
?What a week it has been. The world dedicated to expressing the greatness of a man, a farewell to the
greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali. The King of Boxing is now eternal and his legacy and inspiration will live on in the hearts and minds of millions.
As I arrived in Louisville on Wednesday, a nostalgic, sad feeling was floating all over. As hours went by it all changed to an unbelievable feeling of peace and glory. People started to celebrate the life of one who in many ways influenced us all. Louisville turned into a bright scene with the commitment of many to make sure the final goodbye to Ali lived up to a series of events that this hero deserved.
Lonnie, Marylin and Ron DiNicola, the leadership of Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, The Ali Center and the hundreds of volunteers who worked 24/7 and performed at their best ability.
It would be impossible to mention the so many distinguished personalities that found their way to this beautiful city, but is was certainly humbling to see great boxing legends like Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, Bernard Hopkins, Vinnie Paz, Gerry
Cooney, Hasim Rahman, to see the two legendary promoters who made the Ali era inside the ring remarkable, Don King and Bob Arum, to see other boxing personalities like Lou DiBella, Don Majeski and hundreds more from the boxing world. Sports legends like legendary running back Jim Brown
and basketball hero Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Music stars Chubby Checker and Cat Stevens. The list goes on and on and on.
Muhammad Ali?s friends and fans outside the champ?s childhood home in Louisville, KY/Photo: Teddy
Blackburn The streets were filled with thousands waving goodbye as Ali was driven throughout the city, finally reaching the home where his body will rest in peace.
The Yum Center memorial service was epic with speeches by representatives of all religions, family and friends?a united family holding hands to welcome their hero to eternity. Muhammad Ali is now eternal, no era, no timeline, he belongs to history and his legacy will live on forever and ever?
Just one day after his passing, Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido reminded the world what boxing is all about, fighting 12 dramatic rounds to a draw. Every boxing event on the globe honored the memory of Ali, all fighters entered the ring and dedicated their fights to ?The Greatest? and boxing will go on and will forever pay tribute to the man who changed this great sport with his deeds, values and
principles, his brave stance to challenge the systems, destroy obstacles and pave the way to a better sport, a better world.
We all have lost a dear one, a personal hero, I lost my dear father two years ago, but on June 3rd, the world lost a common hero. We all share such feelings and we all now feel inspiration to keep his memory alive, to stand tall and walk our way into a better future. To break paradigms and dream and make things happen.
The WBC and the Sulaiman family will continue to honor those principles, will continue to fight discrimination and abuse of power, will search for unity and work to have a clean sport in all aspects, fair play, respect and dignity, and do whatever it takes to make the sport safer for our heroes, the boxers of the world.
The WBC will continue to honor Muhammad Ali, will do so by example, by conviction, and by actions. The International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend carried on and Ali was mentioned by each inductee. Ali was there welcoming the 2016 generation to immortality.
Jerry Izenberg, Harold Lederman, Marc Ratner, Colonel Bob Sheridan, Hector ?Macho? Camacho, Hilario Zapata and Lupe Pintor, their families, friends, world media and fans from around the world applaud these great men who have made boxing better in their own field and Canastota once again
became the capital of boxing for this memorable induction.
Long Live Muhammad Ali, long live Boxing??
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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