The WBC turns 61
The Green and Gold World Boxing Council celebrates 61 tremendous and eventful years.
The WBC was founded on February 14, 1963, at exactly 1pm, in the Prado Alffer Hotel of Mexico City, which was later levelled by the rumbling shockwaves of the massive 1985 earthquake.
But the WBC, which was supported by the sturdy interlinking pillars of 11 nations, has risen from its bedrock foundations to become, with granite resolve, the foremost skyscraper on the Boxing skyline.
It was the brainwave and then brainchild of charismatic Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos, who had been a talented amateur, had then evolved into an avid fan, and was determined to place Mexico at the zenith of Boxing greatness.
The directors of the then National Boxing Association (NBA) and the New York Athletic Commission attended the event, and gladly became part of the new group.
Another powerhouse was the British Boxing Board of Control, led by J. Onslow Fane, and Edouard Rabret was at hand to represent the interests of French boxing.
From the NBA, which is today known as the World Boxing Association (WBA), its President Charles P. Larsen and Messrs. Anthony Petronella and Emile Bruneau. California was represented by Harry W. Falk and New York was represented by General Melvyn Krulewitch.
Mr. Luis Spota, Ramón G. Velázquez and Rafael Barradas, among others, proudly represented Mexico.
Don Rodrigo Sánchez was present on behalf Panama. Dr. Gustavo Vega represented Venezuela. Rafael Nahmías participated on behalf the Chilean Boxing Federation.
Icaro Frusca was here on behalf of the Argentine Boxing Federation, and Colonel Vicente Saguas Presas came from Brazil.
The first President was the British Onslow Fane, who lasted only a few minutes, explaining time constraints, preventing him from giving the full attention it deserved. He was succeeded on the spot, by Mexican Luis Spota.
Subsequently, the Philippine Justiniano Montano and the Mexicans Ramón G. Velázquez, José Sulaimán Chagnón led the WBC.
The President today is Mauricio Sulaimán Saldivar.
His father, Don José Sulaimán, became President in Tunis, on December 5, 1975, via unanimous vote. During his tenure of 38 years, Don Jose was instrumental in introducing the crucial major developments of the modern boxing era.
He will be forever remembered and revered for inspirational, brave, remarkable, and major game changing innovations, in a sport which can never be played.
Mauricio, his youngest son, who has also devoted his life to the Sport of Boxing, was unanimously voted President in Mexico City on February 11, 2014, and continues the ongoing quest to better Boxing, especially concerning its health and safety aspects.
Mauricio received 26 votes and the trust from the members of Board of Governors from all over the World, being unanimously elected as WBC President on that historic day.
“We’re going to do the very best for Boxing. We will continue with my Dad’s plans and keep improving The Sport,” Mauricio promised that morning and he’s kept his word.
The 54-year-old Mexican has now been at the helm for 10 successful years.
In its 61 years, the World Boxing Council has earned the title of the most respected and influential boxing sanctioning body.
It is now a family of 17 nations, who meet each and every year at a Grand Convention, in magnificent locations dotted all around the World, celebrating and simultaneously working to improve every aspect of Boxing, which is the Noble Art of the closed fist, yet simultaneously the open heart.
Mauricio Sulaiman: “British boxing is the best in the world!”