By Mauricio Sulaimán – WBC President – Son of José Sulaimán
I went to the movies this past weekend with my wife Chris and my daughter Valeria. I had already forgotten the feeling of arriving at a theater with the anticipation of watching a movie, watching the trailers and the production company intro that sets the perfect mood for the start of the film; eating popcorn and forgetting about everything that is out there, Ignoring everything that is inside your phone and leaving the auditorium discussing the movie and exchanging opinions.
These past few days, I also returned to morning walks— My WBC Walk, a routine I started 8 years ago when I had a very serious health issue. Unfortunately, I abandoned my walks, and I could list dozens of excuses for why I stopped walking and leading a healthy life, but the reality is that no excuse is powerful enough to justify abandoning discipline.
How good I have felt these past few days that I’ve been walking; even if my whole body hurts for the rest of the day, my mind is clear, my drive to work and accomplish things is back, and let’s push forward with everything!
Last week I spoke about the new WBC lightweight world champion.
He returned to Mexico City and the reception at the airport was wonderful, memorable; what a shame that the airport authorities do not allow mariachis inside—they were already prepared to sing El Rey to the new champion. “El Camarón” , William Zepeda joins a distinguished list of 10 Mexicans who have held the green and gold in that very important division, the lightweight division.
Erubey “Chango” Carmona
Rodolfo “El Gato” González
José Luis “El Zurdo” Ramírez
Julio César Chávez
Miguel Ángel “El Mago” González
César Bazán
José Luis “El Temible” Castillo
Antonio DeMarco
Humberto “El Zorrita” Soto
William “El Camarón” Zepeda
But how about those other great warriors from around the world who have held the green and gold in the lightweight division. This is certainly one of the most important weight categories in history .
Roberto Durán (Panamá)
Pernell Whitaker (EE. UU.)
Julio César Chávez (México)
Alexis Argüello (Nicaragua)
Carlos Ortiz (Puerto Rico)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (EE. UU.)
Ismael Laguna (Panamá)
Héctor “Macho” Camacho (Puerto Rico)
Esteban De Jesús (Puerto Rico)
Miguel Ángel González (México)
This week will be dedicated to the memory of one of the greatest champions in history, the great Salvador Sánchez, who passed away that August 12, 1982, in a tragic car accident.
Salvador Sánchez left us at the young age of 23. He won the WBC featherweight world championship against a ring great, Danny “Coloradito” López, and defended the title nine times.
His most important fight was that glorious night when he knocked out the man who was the executioner of Mexican fighters, Wilfredo Gómez from Puerto Rico, who was stepping up in division as WBC super bantamweight champion with fourteen title defenses, all won by KO, and was a heavy favorite to win the fight. Sal Sánchez knocked him out in 8 rounds and established himself as a grand idol. Sánchez defeated several world champions, and his last bout was precisely against legendary Hall of Famer Azumah Nelson.
On Tuesday, we will host our traditional Martes de Café (Coffee Tuesday) at the House of Representatives, where an official tribute will be paid to Salvador Sánchez and will officially crown William Zepeda.
On Wednesday, we will head to his hometown, Santiago Tianguistenco, where we will hold a brief press conference, followed by the traditional mass, a visit to his grave, and from there on to celebrate with the annual amateur boxing tournament and a delicious meal hosted by the Sánchez family.
On Thursday, we will have another important activity as we visit the Tacubaya Pediatric Hospital as part of the celebrations of Sal Sánchez’s life, accompanied by WBC interim super lightweight world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. This WBC Cares event, led by Christiane Manzur, is a way to bring happiness and hope to those who need it most, to their families, and also a tribute to all the doctors, nurses, and everyone involved in caring for the little champions fighting to recover.
Did you know…?
The fight between Salvador Sánchez and Wilfredo Gómez was spectacular in every sense. The atmosphere experienced at Caesars Palace on that occasion is remembered as one of the most impressive. Before the boxers stepped into the ring, there was another fight, but not of boxing and without punches: inside the ring, a salsa band traditionally dressed and with their instruments gave it their all with their boricua music, and in the other corner, a full mariachi performed traditional Mexican songs. Something like that—neither before nor since—was a unique episode in the history of boxing and perhaps of all sports.
Today’s Anecdote…
For as long as I can remember, boxing has been in my memory, every single day of my life. I saw, on many occasions, people asking my dad for his opinion about fights and who was going to win. He always answered with different technical details, joked, and completely evaded giving a prediction. I never heard him give anyone a prediction of who would win a fight…
One day we were in Las Vegas, and my Aunt Nelly, my dad’s sister—who had never been to a fight—asked him: “Tell me, Pepito, who is going to win? Julio César or De La Hoya? Tell me, because I want to put down a few dollars.” The response to his own sister was the same as always: “It’s going to be a great fight, Chávez’s experience and Óscar’s youth, we’ll see what happens”…
When everyone left, I asked my dad why he never gave a prediction… “Oh, my son, if you only knew. Many years ago I was having a cup of coffee and a very dear friend arrived and showed off a ticket where he had bet 50 thousand dollars on Wilfredo Gómez… I told my friend: say goodbye to your money, Sal Sánchez is bigger and he is exceptionally good”… Sánchez knocked out Gómez…
The next morning, there was a knock at Don José’s door. Upon opening it, he met some guys in suits who identified themselves as FBI agents and questioned him about his conversation with his friend… It turns out this gentleman went back to the casino and bet 150 thousand dollars in favor of Sal Sánchez! “My son, from that day on, I never gave my opinion to anyone again.”
I welcome your comments at
contact@wbcboxing.com
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