By Mauricio Sulaimán – President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán
Boxing gifted us an extraordinary weekend—one of those weekends that reminds us why this sport awakens so many passions and demands absolute commitment from those who step into the ring. We witnessed two great bouts featuring champions who proved their quality, preparation, and desire to write new pages in the history of pugilism, alongside challengers who left their hearts in the ring and should feel deeply proud of what they accomplished.
The first great battle we must discuss pitted O’Shaquie Foster against Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete in a unification clash that brought together three super featherweight world titles. It was a high-level contest featuring two distinct styles and a shared objective: glory.
Foster delivered a masterclass performance. He displayed intelligence, technique, defensive discipline, and a great ability to capitalize on every opportunity. His superiority was reflected on the judges’ scorecards, and today he deserves all our recognition for becoming a unified champion, successfully defending his WBC title while capturing the IBF and WBO crowns. Many congratulations on such a tremendous display of boxing!
On the other hand, I want to highlight with all my heart the endearing grit of “Vaquero” Navarrete. Emanuel, challenging for a WBC world title for the very first time, proved to be an indomitable warrior. After hitting the canvas twice in the final round, he found the strength and courage to rise both times and keep going. He finished on his feet, possessing the heart of a true champion and the dignity of someone who leaves every last ounce of breath defending his colors and his titles.
In boxing, there are victories to be celebrated and defeats that leave profound lessons. I am convinced that the Vaquero will return stronger. His career, his resilience, and his willingness to face the toughest challenges will allow him to bounce back, learn, and press forward. My sincere recognition goes to both fighters for delivering a bout that honors our sport.
The second major matchup of the weekend featured Dalton Smith and Alberto Puello battling for the WBC super lightweight title. After having to be postponed last June due to an elbow injury suffered by the champion, the long-awaited date finally arrived. We witnessed a closely contested fight, with very tight rounds and moments where each boxer sought to impose his conditions. Puello sold his defeat very dearly, proving that his quality and experience make him an immensely demanding rival.
Dalton Smith, for his part, had a magnificent debut as champion in front of his home crowd, carrying the heavy responsibility of proving he is ready to defend his place among the elite. He rose to the challenge and pulled through in a fight that demanded concentration, character, and determination.
Now, both Foster and Smith must take a well-deserved period to rest and recover after weeks of intense preparation. Boxing requires physical and mental sacrifices that are often difficult to grasp from the outside, and our champions need to recharge their energy before thinking about their next steps.
Precisely, at our upcoming 64th World Boxing Council Annual Convention, which we will celebrate in Acapulco, we will review the mandatory defenses in each division to map out the path ahead for our champions.
Regarding this great event, this Monday we held the official presentation of our Annual Convention in Mexico City. From November 8 to 13, the Mundo Imperial in Acapulco will bring together major figures, champions, international boxing representatives, and our entire boxing family. It was a great presentation for one of the most anticipated dates of the year; although each day brings intense work, we are thrilled to come together once more. Within the World Boxing Council, we are already working tirelessly to deliver an event worthy of our history.
We will have the honor of welcoming world-class champions, great legends, and former titleholders such as José Luis Castillo, Jackie Nava, Miguel Cotto, Cristian Mijares, and Roberto Durán, alongside our newly crowned champion Sergio “Yoreme” Mendoza, among many other personalities who have left an indelible mark on our sport. It will be a week to share experiences, honor legendary trajectories, and continue building a more united, safe, and humane sport of boxing.
As if that were not enough, this Tuesday I will embark on a journey to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to witness a very special fight card: Mexico vs. The World. Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez will seek to recapture the WBC green and gold super middleweight belt when he faces Christian Mbilli, who will do everything in his power to retain his status as champion.
A matchup of enormous interest awaits us, alongside a card featuring other Mexican champions across a total of ten great bouts. Expectations are very high, and we trust that everything will unfold in the best possible way, and that next week we will be talking about the magnificent battle waged by Canelo and Mbilli.
Did you know…?
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez will be fighting for only the second time in his career outside of Mexico and the United States. Canelo has fought 68 professional bouts, with 67 of them taking place across those two mentioned countries. His only other fight abroad was in Saudi Arabia, making this October 31 bout his second appearance in that country. In May 2025, he defeated William Scull there to claim the undisputed super middleweight championship, and now he returns as the challenger to face the division’s reigning monarch, Christian Mbilli.
Today’s Anecdote
Our beloved Don José was present the day Saúl Canelo Álvarez captured his very first world championship, on March 5, 2011, in his victory over Matthew Hatton in Anaheim, California. My dad attended several of Canelo’s other fights, but the last one he had the opportunity to witness live was on September 14, 2013, when he faced Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. I know my dad would be profoundly proud to see everything Canelo Álvarez has achieved in his professional career.
I appreciate your comments at contact@wbcboxing.com
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