WBC PRESIDENT SULAIMAN TO UNDERGO SURGERY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Sep 2013
World Boxing Council President Don Jose Sulaiman will undergo surgery next week and will take a break from his sometimes hectic activities as president of the world?s premier professional boxing organization.
The WBC informed the Manila Standard that ?after a few months of having various aches and with medical advice, Sulaiman decided to have some studies that have determined the need for surgery, which will take place next week.?
The WBC stressed however that Sulaiman ?is in great shape, very optimistic and ready for a twelve rounder.?
Meantime, activities of the WBC which continues the celebration of its 50th anniversary will run its normal course and both his "staff" at the headquarters under his son and executive director Mauricio Sulaiman as well as the members of the Board of Governors are reportedly fully committed to support President Sulaiman during this process.
The WBC will hold its 2013 Annual Convention at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand from November 3-9.
The 82 year old Sulaiman was a former amateur boxer and in the past served as a trainer, promoter, referee, and judge. However, he is best known as an administrator for more than three decades. At the age of 16, he was on the boxing commission in San Luis Potos?, Mexico. In 1968, he joined the World Boxing Council (WBC) and quickly moved through the ranks. On December 5, 1975, Sulaiman was unanimously elected president of the WBC and has served in that capacity ever since.
Under Sulaiman?s leadership the World Boxing Council has brought about many changes which include the reduction of world championship bouts from 15 rounds to 12, the official weigh-in 24 hours prior to each bout, the creation of intermediate weight divisions, the creation of the World Medical Congress, the introduction of the attached thumb glove and the funding of brain injury research programs at UCLA.
Statistics indicate that during Sulaiman's presidency the WBC has sanctioned over 1,100 title bouts and 300 boxers have won world titles. Truly a worldwide organization, Sulaiman has expanded the WBC's global reach to now include 161 affiliated nations.
Sulaiman, who speaks several languages besides Spanish and English, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 10, 2007.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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