By Mauricio Sulaimán – President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán
After nearly two weeks of travel that took us to Saudi Arabia for the semi-final phase of the WBC Grand Prix, and being in Asia with great friends, boxers, and legends of our sport, we are now back in Mexico.
What we saw in Hermosillo, Sonora, with Camila “Magnificent” Zamorano, was impressive. What a way to fight for a 17-year-old girl, who gave a boxing masterclass against an experienced warrior Sana Hazuki. More than a world title defense, it was a night that marked the beginning of an era for Mexican women’s boxing.
It was a great performance by Camila, who displayed many of the things we see in champions: character, intelligence, and elegance, in addition to proving to be a warrior who commanded respect.
She showcased refined technique, speed, and a hunger to transcend, and she did so against an opponent who also put up a great fight.
She is 17 years old and already shows maturity far beyond her years. She has 13 fights and is a great inspiration for many girls like her who dream of reaching the elite of boxing or other sports.
The World Boxing Council is proud to see her wear her belt with such dignity. Her humility and dedication are an example, and she also shows that Mexican talent continues to shine.
Our organization has always provided support to women’s boxing, and Camila Zamorano joins the great champions this country has had, but she has a great future ahead of her. The WBC will always support her. We celebrate her triumph and effort, and we hope for the best in her career.
This week we also remember one of the greatest careers ever seen in Mexican boxing when the legend of Ricardo “Finito” López was born upon winning his first world championship, the WBC title. On October 25, 1990, he went to Japan to challenge Hideyuki Ohashi, whom he defeated by technical knockout in five rounds.
His career ended undefeated, with 51 victories, 38 by knockout, and one draw. No one managed to defeat him.
For the World Boxing Council, his name is synonymous with pride. He was an exemplary champion who seized opportunities to demonstrate his greatness. And 35 years after that memorable night in Japan, the world continues to applaud his greatness.
Another legendary champion who is a source of pride for the WBC is Evander Holyfield, one of boxing’s greatest glories and whom we will have the honor of receiving today at a special conference. He is one of the great idols who had many battles inside and outside the ring, and who represents the essence of the true champion: strength, faith, resilience, and commitment.
To talk about his career, we would need this and other columns. He was a champion at cruiserweight and heavyweight, faced the best, and never shied away from challenges. He had a trilogy with Riddick Bowe, two fights with Mike Tyson – one of them memorable for the ear bite – and he dominated in an era where there were big names.
Mexico will receive him with open arms, as our country has always known how to recognize the greats, and Holyfield, without a doubt, belongs to that select group: that of our great champions.
The Designer Talent Pitch Flow has concluded, an initiative we presented at a “Tuesday Coffee” meeting, which unites art, innovation, and the spirit of boxing under the Talent Pitch platform. It invited those who wished to show their talent by creating an original design inspired by a Day of the Dead belt.
Among dozens of participants, the winner was José Francisco Salanueva, whose design stood out for its symbolism, its balance between color, tradition, and modernity, and for capturing the essence of the Day of the Dead: a celebration of life, memory, and Mexican pride.
The special belt will be awarded for two important fights in November: one in Puebla, where Gabriela “Bonita” Sánchez will face Tamara Demarco, and for the fight in which Vergil Ortiz will take on Erickson Lubin.
Did you know…?
Evander Holyfield was the first cruiserweight world champion, and later crowned himself as the heavyweight world champion.
Today’s Anecdote
Once again, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, will be the setting for the LXIII WBC Annual Convention from November 30 to December 5.
These meetings were my father’s happiest moments. That was where he saw so many beloved people from all over the world and where there was the most productivity to tirelessly follow up on agreements to make boxing safe.
One of his virtues was attending to people, because he considered it very important to do so with great respect, regardless of who they were or the topic to be discussed, because many traveled from other continents to present their projects. Those moments were very frequent, but all the conventioneers left with a smile and a resolution. He started his schedule very early and often closed it after midnight, and the next day he was ready to preside over the meeting that started at 9:00 AM. That was Don José.
I welcome your comments at [email protected].
