A Weekend to Remember

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / President of the WBC

We are living through a golden age of boxing, which will be remembered in 20 years.

Just like now, we don’t forget Mike Tyson, Julio César Chávez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Durán and many more legendary boxers, as they gave us unforgettable moments with exciting matches.

Gennady “GGG” Golovkin returned with an impressive victory against a fierce Ryota Murata, who came out to give everything, and had the Kazakh in some trouble during the first five rounds. And he is shaping up for his third fight against today’s top boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who will first have to fight a tough test on May 7th.

The women once again excelled, raising our sport with tremendous battles. The WBC flyweight champion, Marlen Esparza, won against another fierce fighter, Japanese Naoka Fujioka. A war in which the judges did not do justice, by scoring 100-90, without giving the Asian Sensation a single round.

The city of San Antonio, Texas, hosted the card. After the Esparza bout, we saw Shane Mosley’s son reach the Major Leagues. And in the main event, the return of Ryan Garcia, one of the brightest prospects, who overcame mental health issues and a hand surgery that kept him out for 15 months.

While in California, the American Mikaela Mayer defeated her compatriot, Jennifer Han.

At the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, what can so far be considered the Fight of the Year 2022 took place. Sebastián Fundora defeated Erickson Lubin in nine rounds to win the interim WBC world championship, in super welterweight.

Fundora is the tallest champion in the history of that division, standing 1.97 meters. He knocked down and hurt Lubin in dramatic fashion, but in the seventh episode, the warrior Erickson knocked him down for the first time in his career.

At the end of the ninth round, the scorecards were in Lubin’s favor, but his corner very aptly and in a timely manner, stopped the fight, due to the enormous punishment he had received and that left him with a badly disfigured face.

On that same card, former WBC world champion Tony Harrison defeated the big-hearted Spaniard Sergio Garcia in a fight for the silver belt and eliminator. After winning, Harrison earned the right to face Fundora.

The World Boxing Council accepted this tournament with an interim title, in the run-up to the long-awaited rematch between the WBC-IBF-WBA champion, Jermell Charlo, against the WBO champ, Brian Castaño.

They fought last year in San Antonio, Texas, which ended in a draw. In this way, the world gets a good number of high-level fights, many boxers are active and boxing fans gain.

Finally, in Metepec, State of Mexico, Ángel Ayala won the right to face the WBC flyweight world champion, after winning the final eliminator against former world champion, Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales. Right there and then, one of the best prospects that Mexico has, David Picasso, conquered the NABF super bantamweight championship, to enter the top ten of the WBC world rankings, and the rookie, Luis Fernando Rodríguez, conquered the junior world championship with a dramatic KO.

A Saturday to remember, and my appreciation to all those who make it possible for boxing to be at its peak.

The promoters who set up these events are Teiken, from Akihiko Honda; Tom Brown’s TGB, Bob Arum’s Top Rank; Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy; Matchroom by Eddie Hearn, and Zanfer by Fernando Beltrán, in addition to the efforts of Sampson Lewkowicz; Rosendo Álvarez, Lou DiBella, Eric Gómez, Tom Loeffler, Maravilla Boxing, Guadalupe Valencia, plus the trainers, therapists and all the members of the boxing teams.

The television stations that made it possible for the world to be connected at all times: Showtime Boxing, DAZN, TV Azteca, ESPN Network, ESPN Knockout, Fox Sports, Space, WBC TV and many more around the world.

Did you know…?

This April 23rd, one of the most important fights between Britons in history will take place, when Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte will face each other for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship.

The last great fight between Englishmen was the war between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, it was on October 1, 1993, in Cardiff, also for the WBC championship. Now, the legendary Wembley Stadium will be the venue.

Today’s anecdote…

On Sunday, writing my column for today, I was reminded of what my life was like just nine years ago.

Every Sunday was a time of joy, as the whole family gathered at my parents’ house. Don José, sitting happily in his favorite chair, eating a snack, while we all scolded him for breaking his diet. My mom taking care of preparing a super banquet for the six children, with our couples, and the 14 grandchildren.

How I miss those talks from my dad. At the time, I didn’t always appreciate them and sometimes it even bothered me when he gave me advice. There is nothing like a united family, it is so important to ensure meetings and do everything possible so that routine and distances do not separate us.

“Children, I hope you are always united, one for the other, in the good times, but, above all, in the tough times. Unity is strength and there is no one more proud than me to see how you are always together, smiling close to your mom and me.”

I welcome your feedback at contact@wbcboxing.com.

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