By Mauricio Sulaimán – Son of José Sulaimán & president of the WBC
We are two weeks away from the opening of our 60th annual convention. Since that February 14, 1963, when 11 countries met to found the World Boxing Council, year after year, the world of this sport meets in these congresses, where a great diversity of topics are treated; The cream is gathered and the most important decisions are made for the development of pugilism.
Kazakhstan was prepared to host this important event; The commitment was signed three years ago, and in reality Suleimen Promotions, made a significant amount of preparations to welcome the world of boxing in its country.
Unfortunately, the ongoing war in the region forced us to change our headquarters. It was thus, that in a very short time, we managed to find one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.
Imperial World Palace will be the meeting place. I am amazed at their facilities; The hotel is beautiful, functional, and very accessible, and has a meeting center, at the level of any congress venue in the world.
We are preparing a series of surprises that, without a doubt, will fill our work meetings with emotional moments, as well as social activities.
Don King comes, with his great enthusiasm. At 91, he is already considering using his flags to walk the halls shouting: Long live Mexico! Long live Acapulco! I love you very much! And I’m very hungry! (sic).
Jackie Nava will be crowned The Queen of Boxing, following her retirement from the ring, after a 20-year career, 17 of them as world champion.
Julio César Chávez and Canelo Álvarez will be the representatives of the greatness of Mexican boxing in the company of at least 40 more champions of our country.
In addition to Miguel Cotto, Jeff Fenech, Vinny Paz, Fernando Vargas, Jessie James Leija, John H. Stracey, Antonio Tarver and the great legendary champions Christy Martin and Mia St. John, among many more, will be the beautiful Port of Acapulco.
A significant number of current champions and monarchs of the future will also attend.
José Cantoral is confirmed to sing the Mexican National Anthem. The son of the greatest composer of our country, Don Roberto Cantoral, who was my soul brother, and who collaborated with the WBC and boxing on a large number of occasions, will do us the honor of enveloping him and will also give us one more surprise.
WORK
DAYS Conventions are the time to review studies and programs to adjust and implement new rules that make boxing safer; In these meetings the decisions that have changed boxing have been made, over
the years.
In 1982 it was decided to lower from 15 to 12 rounds the world championship fights, the most important rule in the history of boxing, this has saved countless lives and guaranteed the quality of life, after the years of activity in the ring. The committees prepare for months to work and achieve their goals.
The classification committee, the legal, WBC Cares, the doctor and so on, meets in work sessions and then presents in the plenary, the task plan for the following year.
Referees and judges receive training, training and certification; WBC Cares will visit a home to bring excitement and motivation to those in need, and we also have great fun moments at awards dinners, cocktail parties and talent night.
There will be two boxing functions within the framework of the convention; one will be held at Mundo Imperial’s OlaFest at the GNP Arena facilities, and the other, at the city’s Convention Center, where Promociones Zanfer and TV Azteca, La Casa del Boxeo, will have the live function for nationwide broadcast.
DID YOU KNOW…?
Mexico has hosted a variety of conventions of our organization. Mexico City on eight occasions (1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1980, 1988, 2000 and 2021), while Cancun, on four occasions (1992, 2010, 2012 and 2019), and this will be the first time that Acapulco receives the WBC, with its 170 affiliated countries.
TODAY’S
ANECDOTE Well, I tell you that conventions are where more anecdotes have been given. It was always the happiest time for my dad. There I saw the entire world boxing community in a week full of joy: promoters, boxers, judges, referees, commissioners, doctors and press, in short, the entire boxing community in one place.
There he took the opportunity to attend private meetings with various groups that sought his attention. I remember the convention in Tokyo, the Ukrainian delegation requested a meeting, which was agreed at seven in the morning, in Don José’s suite.
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