December 10, WBC Convention, Diary #2: Maurico Sulaiman remains WBC boss, title fighters must take precautions in the future, and Boris van der Vorst promotes World Boxing.
Tuesday of the WBC Convention was a day full of workshops and seminars. “Referee & Judges” training and cutmen training were on the program, as well as the “General Session” in the large ballroom. The marathon meeting was hosted by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman himself. There was good news for him right at the start of the meeting: Sulaiman and his management team were unanimously confirmed in their positions.
Precaution: Billy Dib sets an example
The focus of the “General Session” was the well-being of the boxers. And what the WBC boss announced was radical. The association plans to require athletes who will be boxing for a world title to show proof of retirement in future. Otherwise they will not be allowed to fight for the title.
Billy Dib used his own fate to explain just how important this prevention is. The former IBF world champion was diagnosed with stomach cancer and had to interrupt his career until he was cured. “I would have spent my money on fast cars and other things if my father hadn’t put a stop to it,” said Dib. “He forced me to invest my money wisely. If I hadn’t done that, I would be left with nothing.” The Australian was lucky to have a wise advisor at his side.
Vacation planning for hardcore fans
Dib was appointed by Mauricio Sulaiman as an ambassador for the “Board of Champions”, to whom he can provide valuable input due to his own fate. On Thursday, he will fight Atilla Kayabasi in a semi-welterweight bout at Universum Boxing Night #14 . “It will be the last fight of my career,” revealed Dib.
Michael Moorer also made a brief appearance. The former heavyweight champ promoted the “Legends of Boxing inaugural Fan Cruise 2025” – the “first fan cruise of the Legends of Boxing 2025”. Certainly helpful for the vacation planning of hardcore fans, but rather irrelevant for the convention.
World Boxing must grow
Boris van der Vorst, President of World Boxing (WB), used the General Session to make a strong case for the Olympic future of boxing. Without mentioning the IBA, he pointed out that there is no future for Olympic boxing with the status quo. WB currently has a total of 59 members. He hopes to reach the figure of 75 affiliated boxing federations by March. He left open the question of whether 75 nations is the critical mass he needs for survival.
One thing is clear: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has hosted the Olympic boxing tournament twice and will not do so a third time. Van der Vorst emphasized that the IOC wants to make its decision on the future of boxing in the next three months. The Dutchman asked everyone present to use their channels to ensure the future of boxing. Van der Vorst was well received by the audience, as shown by the applause and the many questions he had to answer.
Lewis and the little word if
Do you know James Blears? James is responsible for the WBC’s English-language website. Yesterday he accidentally bumped into Lennox Lewis, who was shielded by bodyguards. James took the opportunity to ask Lewis about the outcome of the Usyk vs Fury II fight.
Lewis: “If Fury can use his jab more effectively and move better, we’ll see a completely different boxing match.” The heavyweight legend is certain of that.
If only the little word if (and Usyk) wasn’t there …
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