By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán
I was privileged to be present for the Inaugural Ring Magazine Annual awards. During this trip, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with HE Turki Alalshikh and I am extremely impressed and enthused to understand some of his points of view and priorities in boxing. His position with regards to PED testing is strong and is completely in line with the WBC Clean Boxing Program. Also, his determination to support new upcoming talent will open the horizon to the so many young fighters just looking for an opportunity to shine and conquer glory.
For many years and decades, the world of boxing has dreamed of having a ceremony like the presentation of the famous Oscar statuette, which is handled in the world of cinematography, the famous Oscars.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh made that dream come true last Saturday, January 11, in London, England.
The spectacular venue was the Old Naval Royal College, a building protected by UNESCO, as a World Heritage Site. The red carpet, the set up and the production, in short, everything in the style of the Academy Awards.
The Ring publication was born 103 years ago in the United States, a magazine that recorded everything that happened in the world of boxing in times where there was no television, telex or fax, not to mention the Internet or social networks.
The publication was eagerly awaited by fans and journalists of our sport around the world. The Ring was founded by Nat Fleischer, who, with his passion for boxing, eventually started a magazine now forgotten by existing technology, but of great value. The annual publication “Ring Record Book” was the record of the activity of each fighter. Even though there are criticisms of the validity of some of these records, it served as a basis for having the historical record of international boxing activity.
Billy Dib won the comeback of the year award with a standing ovation. Billy battled and defeated cancer, and went on to hang up the gloves after a farewell fight in Hamburg during the WBC Annual Convention.
The magazine suffered turbulent times, and in its last stage of existence it was acquired by the great champion Oscar de la Hoya, who has just sold it to the already world-renowned Turki Alalshikh.
In just three months, the publication returned to its original version of paper printing, in addition to the digital version. Two issues have already come out, and the outlook is encouraging.
Let’s go back to the gala. The entire boxing world was present or represented. It was like being in a time capsule. In the blink of an eye, the best boxers of the moment began to arrive, legendary champions and new talent, also promoters, managers, and different members of the boxing community.
Canelo Alvarez appeared in what is his first meeting with His Excellence, accompanied by the great manager/trainer, Eddy Reynoso, and Richard Schaefer. The wonderful undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk was with his team, Egis Klimas and Alexander Krassyuk.
Also active boxers Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker, Agit Kabayel, Zhilei Zhang, Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez, Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol, Devin Haney, Lawrence Okolie, Martin Bakole, Vergil Ortiz, Nick Ball, and Ryan Garcia. Women champions were represented by champions Gabriela Fundora and Skye Nicolson.
The legends included Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Amir Khan, Frank Bruno, John Conteh, and Shane Mosley, among others,
Over the years I have attended many boxing events, mainly the celebrations and conventions organized by the World Boxing Council, and seeing so many champions together is indescribable. On this occasion there was an electrifying energy in the air and the event exceeded all expectations.
I am sure that my father, José Sulaimán, is smiling with great enthusiasm to see that boxing is going through this great moment, to see boxing developing in the Middle East where our blood comes from, to see the Riyadh Season WBC Grand Prix fulfill his dream of a professional boxing World Cup.
Turki Alalshikh’s influence is impressive, and one of the most important facts is that he is getting rival promoters to work in harmony and the great fights can take place.
Japan is shining at the beginning of 2025. Its top star, Naoya Inoue, defends the undisputed title on January 25. Junto Nakatani, the bantamweight knockout artist, will give a chance to Mexican David “El General” Cuellar in February, and Kenshiro Teraji is still solid now as the flyweight champion who will find action in March.
On February 1, PBC will put on its first card of 2025, and it will be spectacular with David Benavidez against David Morrell, Brandon Figueroa in a rematch against Stephen Fulton, and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing Ángel Fierro. The WBC has instituted a commemorative belt, “The Aztec Warrior,” as a trophy for the winner of important fights between Mexican fighters as a tribute to the so many battles featuring these countrymen, Morales vs. Barrera, Chavez vs. de la Hoya, and of course, Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez. This first Aztec Warrior belt is dedicated to the memory of Israel Vazquez who passed away in December.
On February 22, the big card to start the Riyadh Season will have seven world title fights.
The Last Crescendo features:
- Undisputed light heavyweight title: Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol.
- Lightweight title (WBC): Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield.
- Middleweight title (WBC): Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz.
- Interim super welterweight title (WBC): Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov.
- Interim heavyweight title (WBC): Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel.
- Interim light heavyweight title (WBO): Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith.
- Heavyweight title (IBF): Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker.
Did you know…?
Don King is considered the greatest boxing promoter in history, and on Saturday he was honored at The Ring awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his career, in a way that he is practically passing the baton to Turki Alalshikh.
Anecdote for today
My father met Canelo when he was a young boy. From the first meeting he saw something in him, and from that moment, he dedicated himself with great passion to project him, support him, and embrace him as a sports godson.
The Ring Telmex program was started under the leadership of the great Mexican Carlos Slim, a scholarship program to provide monthly support to a selected group of upcoming talent. Well, Canelo was part of the first generation and look what he has done. Don Jose also exalted Canelo as the next superstar of Mexican and world boxing in every opportunity. Today, Canelo is a reality, this mature and successful young man is the maximum representative of world boxing and is in the best stage of his personal and professional life. I was sitting between Saúl and Turki Alalshikh, and I could not stop thinking about my father and how much he always wanted Saúl to succeed. Today it is a reality.
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