By Mauricio Sulaimán – President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán
A week with a lot of activity in the world of boxing, mainly in terms of announcements and promotional events in New York City.
On Tuesday a press conference was held in which the creation of a new boxing promotional company was announced. Multi-billion dollar companies with great experience and influence in the sport have reached an agreement. The UFC, which is a promoter of Mixed Martial Arts, WWE, promoter of Wrestling and HE Turki Alalshikh, who is the leader of Riyadh Season and Minister of Entertainment of Saudi Arabia, who in just under two years has revolutionized the world of boxing, by promoting a large number of events at the highest level, signed a contract for four fights with the most important boxer in the world, the Mexican Saul Canelo Álvarez.
This presentation activated an infinite number of reactions from all components of the boxing industry. Even though not the slightest detail of how this company will operate was given, speculation, rumors and gossip immediately arose like a tsunami in the media and social networks.
The WBC’s position is clear and simple. We are not going to speculate, much less put obstacles in the way of the arrival of a new company. Rather, we will offer openness and full support to those who promote boxing. These are very important companies, and therefore, we should assume that they will bring great opportunities and marvelous benefits for boxers.
We are not going to fall into provocations nor reacting to so many lines and shades of opinion, in which negative scenarios are presented, people and groups trying to wield knives by proposing scenarios of confrontation between the actors and elements of the current boxing industry.
Boxing is a sport that has worldwide activity, it has been and will always be very popular and all boxers come from a long process of formation starting in the small gyms of the world. There are multiple gyms, small promotions that lead to bigger opportunities for the rising talent and then on to the bigger stage. There is room for everyone in boxing .
The following day, the boxing promotion that will take place in The City That Never Sleeps, precisely in Times Square, was presented, something never seen before, a glamorous event that positions our sport in great shape, attracting attention worldwide. This card presents three very attractive fights with highly recognized boxers.
Ryan Garcia’s return to the ring to face Rolando Romero for the WBA welterweight world championship. WBC multi-champion Devin Haney against former champion Jose Carlos Ramirez, and WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez against Arnold Barboza Jr.
It is great to see several boxing promoters collaborate in putting this mega event together including Golden Boy, Matchroom, Top Rank and PBC.
One of the greatest positives from Riyadh Season Series of Boxing has been to see the collaboration between promoters who in the past would not sit down to make matches and this has given fans sensational fights between the best boxers of the moment.
At the end of the press conference, an action took place that immediately went around the world, and once again in just two days, it set the speculation of Tuesday’s announcement on fire. I have received countless messages and requests for interviews to comment on the subject and I definitely decided not to fall into the circus of biased and speculative notes.
At the time of posing for the official photograph, the great manager and trainer Eddy Reynoso passed the Green and Gold Belt to Canelo, and the video shows His Excellency Turki Alalshikh making a comment with a head movement that appears to be a “no.” Many people commented that by zooming in what he was saying was: no problem.
The world of social networks was given free rein with aggressive and conspiratorial comments claiming that this new group is against the WBC.
Our position is firm and consistent. We are not going to react to confusing or indirect situations, much less create a hostile environment in the world of boxing. WE are all for unity, mutual collaboration and support and
Boxing is a great sport, it is the one that offers opportunities, gives chances and opens up a bright future to people, who otherwise would have no way out of humble circumstances. Boxing creates idols from the neighborhood, the city, the country and the world.
The WBC owes itself to the boxer. We exist for the boxer, before, during and after their years of glory in the ring.
The WBC supports promoters, without promoters there is no boxing and we will always be open to projecting new ideas, programs, tournaments and any other activity that is beneficial to the sport and above all to its members.
In conclusion, welcome to the new promotional group, which does not even have a name yet. We wish them success and we hope they do wonderful things for boxing. Welcome to the new era of Ring magazine, which Oscar de la Hoya sold to HE Turki Alalshikh who has returned to its print format, with a lot of activity on social networks and also a digital platform to communicate global news about our sport.
I emphatically refuse and decline to comment on anything else that is said and much less to encourage distancing between the world boxing community.
