Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Technological evolution or revolution?
By Mauricio Sulaimán
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Sep 2025
We live in an era of ever-increasing technological change, and it's simply impossible to meet the new generations' demand for innovation and creativity. This has a significant impact on almost every aspect of our lives, and it's difficult to directly visualize what's happening.
For the first time in 16 years, our great champion, Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez, will not be on broadcast television when he faces the great champion Terence Crawford this Saturday, September 13, at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Netflix will be the exclusive platform where the fight can be watched worldwide. Is this a digital evolution? Or is it a revolution of this platform trying to crush everyone else to gain a foothold in boxing?
TV Azteca, "The House of Boxing," as my father christened it when he brought broadcast television back to Mexico in 2006, has broadcast Saúl's last 21 fights. Before that, Saúl was on Televisa's screens, but that won't happen on the 13th. The Mexican people will be deprived of the opportunity to shout with joy on the night of this traditional Mexican holiday, cheering on their idol.
Boxing has already gone through this process in the history of its television transformation. Initially, there were thousands of people in arenas and stadiums. Then came television, which represented the first major change, bringing fights to millions of fans. This ultimately impacted stadium attendance due to the convenience of watching events on television.
Within the television model, there have also been significant changes. From broadcast television came cable television, which requires a subscription fee. Thus, HBO, Showtime, and ESPN broadcast the most important fights for decades. A very attractive model was also observed: closed-circuit events, meaning fights were broadcast in arenas, stadiums, and entertainment centers where fans paid to watch them live. Then came pay-per-view, where events were presented on platforms where fans had to pay to buy the signal and watch the fight from home.
The present is the time of digital platforms, the famous streaming. Given that the vast majority of humanity lives with a mobile phone in hand, these platforms have become the evolution of how we enjoy content.
The reality is that the combination of all these modalities is the perfect formula for success. If they could all interact in some way, an incredible harmony would be created for the benefit of the fan, who is the true owner of all the programming and content.
I hope Netflix reflects and agrees to allow the most important boxing event of recent years to be seen on open television for Mexicans. The formula is very simple: stream it live on Netflix for everyone who has the platform, and when the Netflix programming ends, include a delayed broadcast so people can watch that big fight. What a great Mexican celebration that would be! The classic soccer match between América and Chivas ends at 11:00 PM, and people could see what happened in Canelo vs. Crawford.
We live in a world where anarchy reigns. Respect for order and institutions with solid structures is threatened by debauchery. Recently, a tragedy occurred in boxing: two boxers competing on the same card in Japan died. This led us to exhaustively review all plans to make boxing safer for those who step into the ring. In this process of reviewing and implementing safety protocols, we have come face to face with the reality of today's world: a society thirsty for blood and aggression. The Roman Circus is back, and they don't care about the human beings who entertain that audience, much less about those who promote and profit from those athletes who, in reality, are victims of their desire to make a living at all costs.
There are a number of events that border on brutality, savagery, and even inhumanity. They are not sports, but social activities where unbalanced fans gather and enjoy watching these grotesque spectacles.
Boxing has done everything imaginable and practically possible to reduce risk and make it a safe, regulated, and serious sport. We now see activities like bare-knuckle boxing, dirty boxing, power slapping competitions, Anything Goes, Underground, and an incredible number of variations that are completely unacceptable.
The World Boxing Council will never cease its pursuit of new rules and procedures to protect boxers and will not give in to popularity, ratings, or the commercial interests of promoters. It's as if the NFL were to reverse its recently implemented rules to protect quarterbacks or the strict rules against illegal hits and tackles that were so common for so many years and caused serious injuries to so many players.
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Did you know...?
Although it may seem incredible, there are those who want women to fight three-minute rounds for the sole purpose of having a "product" for television. The WBC has fought for decades to dignify women's boxing, and that's why there are rules for its protection. It has been a resounding success because the facts prove it.
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Today's anecdote...
My father, José Sulaimán, had one of his greatest challenges helping women find their place in boxing. His admiration for female boxers was fueled by seeing great "ladies," as he called them, sacrifice and strive to find their place in professional boxing. I remember a statement he made at the traditional weekly "Coffee Tuesdays" press conference: "Those who step into the ring, man or woman, are willing to do whatever it takes to make a name for themselves in life. They are tireless warriors with a pride and courage that pushes them to the limit, and they are ready for anything." Of course, a man can fight 15 rounds. Before, they fought 30, 45, or to the death. Of course, a woman can fight three-minute rounds and 12 rounds. The price they pay is very high for the athletes, their well-being, their health, and their longevity. They would risk their lives, or their quality of life, after years in the ring. This is totally unacceptable.
"The only reason the WBC exists is to establish rules and standards to protect boxers."
I welcome your comments at contact@wbcboxing.com .
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mauricio Sulaimán.
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