Q&A with Mauricio Sulaiman: Kambosos vs Haney
By Ray Wheatley
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 21 May 2022
WBC President Mauricio Suilaman spoke to Peter Maniatis about WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney challenging undisputed WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC Franchise champion George Kambosos in Melbourne on June 5 and also mentions the status of Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez.
(1) The undisputed lightweight title bout between George Kambosos and Devin Haney will be in Melbourne on June 5 with the WBC belt on the line. It’s going to be a massive day for Australian boxing said Peter Maniatis KO Boxing Show
Melbourne will be the capital of the world for that week. I am excited - it’s going to be my first trip to Australia. This will be a tremendous fight. I am looking forward to it
(2) Devin Haney has made four successful defences of the WBC lightweight title Santiago, Gamboa, Linares and Diaz. Now he defends against Kambosos who has the other three belts. How big is this in the magnitude of world boxing?
The lightweight division has been featuring tremendous bouts in the last three or four years. This is a culmination - I am very excited to be a part of it. It’s going to be a tremendous fight. Kambosos shook the world when he defeated Teofimo Lopez. Devin Haney has been a consistent winner ever since he started his professional career, making news and now it is time to see the best lightweights in the ring.
(3) There is going to be 55,000 people at Marvel Stadium and they will be boxing on diferent time zones to American with undercard starting around 9.30 in the morning, similar to when Manny Pacquiao fought Jeff Horn. The will be probably 30,000 Greeks there with flags. How is your relationship with the Greek people?
Greek tradition is very similar to Lebanese. The movie - My Big Fat Greek Wedding - that’s the way it was at home when my dad was alive. Everybody gathers and the cooking and children running around. It’s a beautiful tradition and i can relate very much to the Greek tradition. It’s very special.
(4) What will you be doing in the Australian lifestyle. Will you be sightseeing or will it be all business while your in Melbourne?
Yes - of course we are planning a series of activities. Jeff Fenech and Jeff Harding who are heroes. We are going to visit some gyms. We are going to do several things to have the community involved in this great event.
(5) Tyson Fury loves the WBC and has defended that belt against Dillian Whyte. Is there plans that he will fight again?
When fighters finish a very complicated event there is a lot of things going into there minds. We were very happy for his success. He is a tremendous ambassador for boxing and for life. A role model through his own actions he has shown he could recover from adversity and go on and become a winner, regardless of what has happened. I spoke to him and he is taking a very long deserved holiday. We agreed he is going finish the holiday with his family. There is no pressure at all. He deserves to be given the opportunity to thoroughly think his future. We will be communicating in the near future.
(6) Canelo Alvarez lost to Dimtry Bivol but he is still the undisputed super middleweight world champion. There is talk Bivol will come down to super middleweight to fight him. What is the stance with the WBC and Canelo?
Yes - he is the WBC super middleweight champion. We have to recognise and embrace him for going up in weight and looking for challenges. He is a tremendous fighter and took defeat like a man. He has the WBC support at this time. At this time we don’t have any plans. There are many things that are saiid but when the dust settles down with a cool head. Promoters- manager - boxers make decisions, so at this time we are playing it by ear. Let’s see what Canelo wishes to do and from there we will administer the division.
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