WBC PRESIDENT SULAIMAN CLARIFIES POSITION TAKEN AGAINST PACQUIAO
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 07 Nov 2008
Chengdu, China ? A few moments ago, unanimously re-elected WBC President Don Jose Sulaiman (2008-2112) read a press release statement to the general assembly clarifying the issues surrounding the sanction fees imposed to current WBC Lightweight Champion from the Philippines ? Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao. This official statement was delivered during the 46th Annual World Convention morning session today which transcript is as follows:
The World Boxing Council would like to make a clarification of the position taken unanimously by the Board of Governors and the General Assembly during its 46th Annual World Convention held in Chengdu, China.
First of all, the WBC would like to express its profound respect and admiration to Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the President of that great country. Also to the great people of the Philippines, nation that founded the WBC in 1963.
The whole World Boxing Council considered an embarrassment and humiliating act of disrespect by Mr. Michael Koncz, who with his communications ill-advising the great Champion of the World by disrespecting the organization that opened the doors to opportunities for him to show his greatness.
First, the WBC has a rule that all Champions and challengers must pay a 3% sanction fee to the organization; they humiliated the WBC by questioning the pending $ 30,000 dollars in his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, which he himself promised to pay many months ago, but now Mr. Koncz is informing us that he has to talk with the Promoter to see if they are paying or not such money.
Second, they requested permission to fight Oscar De La Hoya, with the WBC approval. In this fight we estimate that he might make more than $ 10 Million Dollars and he offered to pay only $ 20,000, like if the WBC were beggars. The WBC rules are very clear regarding WBC Champions fighting without defending his title.
Third, after the De La Hoya fight without defending his title, he requested the WBC one other permission to fight Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather, which means that the WBC must freeze the WBC Lightweight title for more than a year, taking away all opportunities to all fighters who are fighting everyday to win and fight for the title, to find that there is a barrier and they can not.
Therefore, by unanimous voting of the delegates of the 164 nations present in Chengdu, China, we are granting the representatives of WBC Champion Manny Pacquiao, 15 days to pay such $ 30,000 Dollars that they promised before the fight against David Diaz took place.
In regards with his fight against Oscar De La Hoya, instead of the 1.5% that he must pay, which are half of the 3% stated in the rules, he must pay $ 100,000 Dollars as sanction fee if he wants to keep the title of the WBC.
The WBC has nothing against boxers, as we have a pension plan to help with food and medicine many ex-boxers in the world; the WBC is only working for the safety of boxers and not one single member officer of the WBC gets any compensation from the WBC or boxing whatsoever.
We Love Manny Pacquiao; He is our Superstar; He is the pride of the WBC; and he represents on of the most beloved countries of the world in the WBC, such as the great Philippines, but Mr. Pacquiao is very ill-advised and they are hurting his image and the people that have opened the doors for him, without any knowledge of what is fair or what is not and those people advising Manny are not only not doing their right job, but they are hurting his image for what is the truth and with intention to destroy the image of the WBC, as if we were beggars and belt merchants.
We will always love Manny Pacquiao but we ask him to give consideration to the institution that opened the doors for his greatness.
Top photo: WBC President Jose Sulaiman (L) with his son Maurico, reads the statement concerning Manny Pacquiao at the 46th Annual WBC Convention in Chengdu, China. Photo by Dr. Allan Recto.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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