DON KING SAYS SULAIMAN LEGACY WILL REMAIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 Jan 2014
Colorful American promoter Don King who was in Mexico for the various tributes to the late WBC president Dom Jose Sulaiman who passed away at the age of 82 some months after heart surgery has said Sulaiman?s legacy will remain.
The WBC quoted King who said "Jose Sulaiman, your legacy will remain!"
The American promoter who attended the funeral services for Don Jose whom the WBC referred ti as their ?beloved leader,? stressed that the magnificent legacy Jose Sulaiman has left, is far from over.?
In a tribute to the legendary sports leader, Don King said "I lived beside a great man. Jose Sulaiman was a great man and a tremendous human being who fought for peace and humanity. That means more than anything and we must celebrate his life."
In the meantime the World Boxing Organization headed by Gilbverto Mendoza has also paid tribute to Don Jose.
In a Resolution The Board Members of the World Boxing Association join the grief felt by the family Sulaiman.
It read: CONSIDERING
1. - That on January 17th, 2014 Don Jose Sulaiman passed away.
Ch 2 . - That Don Jose Sulaiman was a model of a sports leader, regarded by many as the father of modern boxing. Three - That Don Jose Sulaiman was President of the World Boxing Council since 1975. And That Don Jose Sulaiman was a great friend of this Association. That Don Jose Sulaiman was an excellent husband and father
RESOLVED 1. - To regret deeply the passing of Don Jose Sulaiman . Two - Presenting our sincere condolences to the Sulaiman Family. Three - Be bearers of a message of solidarity to support the Sulaiman family in this time of grief and pain, in the hope of eternal resurrection. And to communicate this resolution to the Sulaiman Family.
Gilberto Mendoza President and Gilberto Jes?s Mendoza Executive Vice President.
One of the many dreams that World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman fulfilled, was to hold a boxing extravaganza in his native Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas....and it finally took place in 2009.
The card was headed by then WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa. A cherished memory which always meant so much to Don Jos?. Sosa Medina KO?d Pornsawan Porpramook that night.
Sosa recalled that "Don Jose always wanted to bring boxing to his homeland Ciudad Victoria and I was fortunate to be the headliner of that card, which had the support of government and the local mayor. It was the first worldchampionship fight in Tamaulipas" he recalled.
Edgar also says: "It gave me a great learning experience. Don Jose was a great man. I remember that he was very supportive for the championship fight, and when I won, he said I was going to be one of the strongest champions in that division and so I was, with eleven defenses.
"I'll always remember that advised me, to train hard, to work safe and take care of my money. These are things that I'll always be glad of."
Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain has expressed his wish that the son of the late WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman, executive director Mauricio Sulaiman takes over as WBC president.
Boxingscene.com quoted the famed trainer of Juan Manuel Marquez who said "Hopefully he (Mauricio) can keep on the work of his father. Mauricio has to see the inheritance left by his father; he has to lead the WBC, as this would be ideal for the boxing world."
Earlier, top Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer said he would try and convince Mauricio Sulaiman to head the pre-eminent world organization which was also the sentiment of top Japanese promoter and eminent businessman-sportsman Akihiko Honda.
Beristain conceded that while he had differences with Don Jose they never lost respect for each other.
The Mexican trainer said "I rushed from Hermosillo. I was there but I had to say goodbye to Don Jose. People tell me I had many differences with him and the truth is that I had them, but I never lost respect for him. I've always recognized that the WBC became the best organization in the world. I could not think otherwise if I had 14 WBC champions" said Beristain.
The famed coach acknowledged that besides admiration for the work of Sulaiman, also maintains a special care for him due to the help he offered to boxers pointing out that "You can not hide what Sulaiman did with boxers, he helped them in the moments in which they needed it the most. I?ll never going to forget that he inaugurated my gym."
Photo: Sulaiman and Don King.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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