By Mauricio Sulaimán
WBC President – Son of José Sulaimán
The electoral process in the United States has ended. Uncertainty and speculation are over. Donald Trump won the election and will be the 47th president of the USA.
A wave of celebrations has emerged, another large flock of opportunists has already emerged, and, fortunately, the much-publicized social clashes that were said to occur if Trump won did not occur.
Donald Trump is a friend of boxing, which we celebrate. It was our sport that in the 90s turned around its financial and structural complications. In an innovative and masterful move by Donald Trump, he teamed up with Don King to promote five Mike Tyson fights just when he was the most powerful athlete in the universe, undisputed WBC heavyweight world champion, undefeated and considered invincible.
In 2018, as President of the United States, he granted a presidential pardon to Jack Johnson, a milestone that took decades to achieve. Johnson was the inspiration for Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and many more boxers and athletes.
Don José Sulaimán, my dear father, led the WBC initiative campaign made up of many world champions, members of society and North American politicians, to promote said presidential pardon, which reached the Senate, and was on the desk of three presidents: George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, but it was not until President Trump arrived with his empathy for the terrible case of racial discrimination and abuse of a boxer, who decided to sign it at a historic event that we had the honor of witnessing in the office Oval of the White House, May 24, 2018. Sylvester Stallone was key to this monumental achievement, demonstrating once again why he is boxing’s greatest ambassador.
This coming Friday, Mike Tyson will go into a ring to fight at 58 years of age. The last time he did so was in November 2020, an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. during the COVID-19 pandemic. An event that was sensational, as it provided the necessary entertainment for humanity in the darkest moments of this global crisis.
It was an exhibition with a lot of respect for each other, and with a clear understanding of not seeking to harm each other.
His last real fight was in 2005. He lost by knockout in a pitiful and regrettable way, since his physical and mental state was very far from that Tyson who fiercely dominated the heavyweights in the 80s.
This new adventure against Jake Paul will have the world waiting this Friday, November 15 at the Dallas Cowboys stadium, and broadcast on Netflix during its inaugural event of our sport.
There have always been fights or exhibitions in the ring that have united diverse worlds; There have been great events, some embarrassing and others very successful.
Muhammad Ali traveled to Japan in 1976 to face the famous local fighter Antonio Inoki, who did not get off the canvas for 15 long rounds, kicking Ali in the legs, during one of the most boring shows in history.
Gigolo movie star Mickey Rourke took up boxing with a passion and had a handful of fights in Japan, retiring undefeated. All of his fights were questioned because the opponents were of a ridiculous level.
Dallas Cowboys great defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones had six professional fights and won them all, but preferred to return to the field.
Home run sensation Jose Canseco wasn’t so lucky and was embarrassingly knocked out when entering the ring against a skinny guy.
Boxing has become very popular with the presence of personalities in recent years.
The Paul brothers, Logan and Jake, are social media influencers who have taken the sport of fists as the great means to reach millions of fans.
And so many other similar cases in various countries such as that of the Spanish Ibai Llanos, who last July filled the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with a boxing event for influencers.
The difference is that the Pauls, especially Jake, have taken the sport with the absolute seriousness that boxing deserves, being a contact sport. Jake has been training with responsibility and dedication for many years and has won 10 fights professionally with only one loss to Tyson Fury’s brother.
Mike Tyson has a record of 50-6, but none of that counts now since he hasn’t fought for 20 years. He’s had a life with all kinds of ups and downs, but just showing a 10-second clip of him savagely hitting the bag or gloves has millions of people dreaming. Will Iron Mike be able to deliver a brutal blow to Jake and knock him out?
God willing, everything will work out this Friday. Mike Tyson’s legacy is very important for boxing.
* * *
The global boxing community has come together in an exemplary way to support Israel Vázquez, who has suffered from multiple sclerosis for years and was diagnosed with cancer last week.
Israel is one of the great Mexican champions. He starred in one of the most important trilogies in history against Rafael Márquez. Both saw their careers cut short by the brutality of those fights. Israel lost his right eye and hung up his gloves.
We are all with Israel Vázquez. Whoever wants to join, just visit this link to make a donation, which is so needed right now:
Did you know that…?
Multivision, a television network in Mexico, created together with the World Boxing Council the tournament called the Golden Belt. A great concept with boxers in four and six rounds, with direct elimination, and the finals were great events. Corona was the sponsor that allowed this tremendous concept. The tournament produced 17 world champions in its 20 years of existence. Israel Vázquez was crowned Gold Belt champion in 1995.
Today’s anecdote
My father was at his desk when he received a call from Don King. After a few minutes of exchange, he hung up and said, “My son, Don King finally accepted my recommendation.
A millionaire from New York named Donald Trump offered him a big contract to fight Mike Tyson in Atlantic City, and Don didn’t want to, because he feels very comfortable in Las Vegas. “I told him not to be stupid, to take that option, and Las Vegas would come back with a better offer in the future.”
And so it was. Don King got five percent of MGM stock so Tyson could return after his five fights in Trump Plaza, New Jersey.
I appreciate your comments on [email protected] .
Jake Paul is the favorite against Mike Tyson
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