WBC President introduces inclusive boxing document aspirations
World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman has announced that his council would like to reduce boxers’ “exploitation” by instituting an official document that conveys fighters’ vital statistics like injuries, total rounds found, and medical background.
Sulaiman, who conveyed the information at the World Boxing Council 48th annual convention in Cancun, Mexico, said that the idea would be to present the document before fights and have it examined by relevant boxing commissions much in the same
way a passport is used to identify people.
The document would apply to the 164 nations affiliated with the WBC, and, according to Sulaiman, greatly reduce the possibility of mismatches or foreseeable injuries.
Currently all professional boxers must have an official boxing license from the relevant licensing body that stipulates passing intensive medical exams and often having amateur experience.
Sulaiman said that he would also like documents to outline the quality of opponents, though it is unclear how quality will be outlined. One possibility is that titleholders will be identified, as well as notable opponents based on official ranking systems.
Sulaiman emphasized the political injustices of professional boxing as the main reason for the implementation of the document, saying: “The pirates of the gymnasiums leave, taking boxers without authorization or any medical examination. They take a featherweight
and make him fight against a welterweight. They put a boxer who's been constantly losing against a winner, or a fighter who's been medically suspended."
With 35 years of experience as WBC President, Sulaiman has taken his share of criticism but also overseen the introduction of wide-sweeping safety measures to the sport, such as the elimination of 15-round fights.
At the convention Sulaiman was also recognized as “Longest Serving President of a Global Sports Organization,” by the Guinness Book of World Records, indicating his enormous stature.
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