At the end of the last century, boxing enjoyed enviable health in our country. Figures like Poli Díaz and Javier Castillejo filled pavilions in Spain, with a dedicated audience that included government ministers. The years passed and the lack of emerging pieces caused the puzzle to fall apart. But boxing never went away. And now he has returned strong, solid, with aspiring world champion boxers like Sandor Martín. The president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Mauricio Sulaimanis aware of this and has landed in our country seeking to strengthen relationships, since the talent is palpable, and to guarantee the present and future of Spain in the noble art. And that involves closing a historic agreement with Morales Box, a boxing franchise that seeks to promote talent from the grassroots and expand the sport of the sixteen strings.
– What is the main reason for this trip?
– Morales Box is an example of what all countries can do to provide an opportunity for society, for children, for youth, for wives, for executives, to get out of routine, from depression, from anguish… And find a second home to build dreams, which is what boxing helps you with a lot of discipline and dedication, build a new life.
-What does this collaborative agreement with Morales Box translate into?
– It is an absolutely inclusive program that is about being able to help, provide technology, trainers, for cutmans, for bandaging, for nutrition, for judges, for referees… And getting from the recreational level to the professional level.
– Sandor Martín, the Spanish boxer best positioned to become WBC world champion, was present at the facilities.
– Sandor is a watershed, he is a success story. A young man who has been a youth champion, a European champion, who defeated Mikey García when he was considered the most important in the world, who had a fight where he fell twice and lost a highly questioned decision with Teófimo López. Justice is served and he is maintained as an official challenger. If he manages to win the world title, it will be the new beginning of Spanish boxing for many generations.
– At what point is Spain at a global level in boxing?
– It is growing, in a large curve, very close to the top. Sandor is the result of many years of work, there are very valuable people in this country, Spain is a founding member of the WBC. He deserves more medals and more champions, two medals have already arrived in the last Games, now let the world champions come.
– At what level is boxing within the world sports spectrum and how important is the WBC within this sector?
– At the global level it is in one of the best moments in the history of sports. There are heroes in Japan, Naoya Inoue, who put 55,000 people in the Tokyo Dome, there is Australia, where George Kamobosos put 45,000, there is Korea, the United States, Saudi Arabia… It is an explosion of greatness that boxing is experiencing.
– Speaking of Saudi Arabia, there is a figure who is Turki Al-Sheikh, who is betting very heavily on boxing. Are you having collaborations with him?
– Definitely, from day one, we had the opportunity to be present in Saudi Arabia. That was a dream of my father, who, having Lebanese and Syrian descent, always wanted to see the Middle East have boxing. Riyad Season and Turki have reached the best of the best. They have focused on heavyweight, but they have managed to take great fights like Beterbiev against Bivol, Tyson Fury against Usyk…
– What would you say Turki Al-Sheikh brings to the sport?
– His passion for the sport has led him to give fans the opportunity to see the fights that were a dream. Let’s hope that there is continuity and that this influence continues so that the fights that everyone wants to see take place.
– The CEO of the UFC, Dana White, has said that he wants to get into boxing. What do you think it could contribute to the sport?
– Dana White is the creation of boxing, he comes out of boxing, he had an important vision with the support of the Fertitta brothers to build what the UFC is today. The UFC is a company that promotes the sport of mixed martial arts and it has a successful group that if it starts promoting boxing there will be great benefits.
– We are seeing how some UFC stars make the transition to boxing to seek million-dollar purses. If a UFC champion fights in the WBC, could he be ranked?
– Without a doubt. What we did last year with Francis Ngannou is an example of this. Ngannou makes his first boxing match against the WBC world champion, knocks him down and loses a split decision to the champion, and we rank him at number 10 in the world. This is what happens with Muay Thai champions too and they qualify. There is precedent and it is justified.
– In Spain we have Ilia Topuria, a star and UFC champion, who has already expressed his intention to fight in boxing against some big name. Would you like to see him fighting a big fight?
– Of course. It would be welcome, with great pleasure, interest and respect.
– To make this transition, would any modification be made to the WBC statutes?
– No, it is perfectly justified. The criteria for classification considers amateur career or career in other contact sports as merit to be classified.
Mauricio Sulaimán, along with the owner of Morales Box, Cristian Morales
– Therefore, a UFC champion could be in the WBC rankings after boxing.
– Yes, definitely. And we have already done it.
– Is there any legendary name that makes you especially excited that could box in your system?
– Not specifically, anyone who turns to watch our sport will have the doors open and there are many things to do.
– Could a UFC champion debut directly against a world boxing champion or would he have to do a previous fight?
– That depends, most likely you will have to do a previous fight, to be able to validate the transition to this sport. Although a specific case cannot be ruled out that could make a request and be studied and the Governing Board can support it so that it goes directly for the championship.
– Do you think MMA and boxing are destined to coexist and understand each other?
– They are totally different sports. Boxing has 120 years of transition, transformation, structural changes at the highest level for the protection of the athlete. Going down from 15 to 12 rounds, weighing in a day before, a large number of medical tests and anti-doping… In boxing everything is about finding a way to make it safer.
– Speaking of those measures, it was your father, José Sulaimán, who introduced more ropes into the ring, who established the drop from 15 to 12 rounds… What importance did it have in the development of boxing?
– My analysis is that boxing existed before and after José Sulaimán. When my father became president, he wanted to revolutionize the sport. From a very young age he saw what boxing was from his core. The abuse, the discrimination against human beings, they were not paid well at all and many other issues that changed. He was passionate about the boxer, we owe ourselves to the boxer.
– What are the objectives of the WBC?
– The next few years are about solidifying the organization, keeping it united, saving amateur boxing, mediating so that Saudi Arabia’s intervention is one, with continuity and that permeates other promoters and boxers. And continue fighting to have the means to change rules and protocols and have a television channel open to the public 24 hours a day.
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