ENGLISH VERSION – Big boxing is still the richest sport on the planet. Tonight's world heavyweight title Tyson Fury e Deontay Wilder will bring in 30 million dollars, plus a portion of the pay per view proceeds, to the English boxer and 20 million plus the PPV to the American challenger. Not even the pandemic has stopped the unstoppable race of stock exchanges and advertising that revolves around world stocks.
Boxing is business but also historically an incredible crossroads of political and social interests which, also thanks to spectacular events in the world, manages to involve heads of state, high finance, Hollywood stars and obviously the general public. Boxers themselves are very often personalities that go far beyond their sporting and financial "weight". The civil battles of Muhammad Ali at the time of the war in Vietnam are already in the history books, Donald Trump recently commented on the match with Evander Holyfield, in the Philippines the super champion Manny Pacquiao is a candidate to become president of the Republic. The legend Vitali Klitschko is the current powerful mayor of Kiev.
Exclusively for FIRSTonline, the most important man in world boxing, the Mexican mauritius sulayman, president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), the acronym of boxing's immortal champions, speaks broadly about the future of boxing.
President Sulaiman, great boxing is stronger than the pandemic. WBC champion matches are perhaps the most watched events in world sport.
«I'll make a premise: during the pandemic, our first concern was safety. We have developed a complete health protocol involving experts, doctors, boxers, referees and commissioners. The virus by its nature spreads like fire if given the slightest opportunity. Only with prudence have the great boxing shows returned. Without the public present, we have "neutralized" the pandemic also thanks to the television and digital platforms that have hosted world boxing events live. Showtime, Fox, Espn, Espnko, Dazn, Sky have broadcast more boxing than ever in recent months. Millions of fans, locked up at home, really needed entertainment. Now the arenas and stadiums are full again."
In the light of what has happened in these two years, where will the WBC invest the greatest resources in the near future?
«Organization and communication are the keys to the future. When there were cases of positive athletes, in a very short time we moved the match dates and found alternatives for the challengers. Technology will help us more and more to minimize expenses and maximize productivity. Unfortunately, I have to note that several champions who have contracted Covid show permanent physical problems and their performances have been hit hard. This is why we are investing heavily in medical consultations to evaluate and study all possible recovery paths».
Despite the powerful emergence of other combat sports, the potential of boxing still seems unattainable for building champions and media events.
“Money is an important factor but our most valuable resource will always be the athletes, especially the young ones. The WBC is a family of XNUMX nations that continues to grow. We are setting up offices in various countries, India, Pakistan, Middle East, Ukraine, China and South Africa. We are a predominantly professional boxing organization, but have also had a strong focus on amateur boxing for some time now. We organized a global petition to save boxing in the Olympics: there can be no professional boxing without the support of amateurs. Boxing already has tremendous strength in the world and I predict that in the coming years there will be new superstars from India, China and many other "new" countries. One more thing: our "WBC Cares" program celebrates its fifteenth anniversary, I'm really proud of the champions who visit hospitals, orphanages and sports centers, donating toys, love and smiles».
Will boxing sooner or later also enter the mixed martial arts business? Is there room for another acronym besides the American UFC?
«The rules are not the same, they are essentially different sports. We saw this clearly with the match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. We respect other sports and can learn from them, just as they can learn from us. Boxing originates in the mists of time, its modern form is more than three hundred years old. The UFC is a new phenomenon, I am confident it will stand the test of time. Muay Thai is also growing steadily and will be a force with which to do great things in the coming years».
The face of boxing today is Mexican champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The di lui is a brand that is worth more than a large company.
«Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is the highest paid boxer of this boxing era, he has amazing skills. My dear father, Josè Sulaiman, had immediately understood the potential of this boy but various television and promotional companies had not given importance to his prediction. Josè Sulaiman looked back on sixty years of commitment and love for boxing, let alone he didn't know how to recognize that God-given talent. Another incredible factor of “Canelo” is charisma, a natural gift that can only be developed. He has won championships in 4 different weight divisions and even his opponents have testified that he is an incredible talent. Nothing fuels success like success itself."
How do you build a sports figure of this kind?
«The maximum is represented by the champions inside and outside the ring. It is boxers who help charities, who privately donate money to charities. Most boxing superstars come from modest families. We think of Manny Pacquiao who is now entering a new phase in his life and wants to become president of the Philippines. Having spent part of his childhood on the street, Manny knows what it means to be poor and wants to make a real contribution to his country. Out of millions of men, very few can become boxing superstars with these physical and human characteristics.
How will boxing change from now to the next 10 years?
«Nothing stays exactly the same over time, boxing is no exception. My father has worked all his life to make it safer and I continue his wise path. Serious injuries and deaths in the ring are very rare today, but even one would be too many. The WBC is a pioneer of all the best health strategies on this, not least in doping tests. We also need to standardize boxing gloves, improve nutrition science, and monitor what's happening in gyms more closely. If there is an accident during a workout, it must be reported to us promptly. My father was responsible for reducing the number of rounds in the world championships from fifteen rounds to twelve. Now all other bouts have ten rounds. In the future, I want to add this, we will increasingly help retired boxers who in some cases are at risk of "falling on hard times".
From a media and television point of view, what's new?
«The WBC will continue to collaborate with many television stations to create new boxing channels, this is the future. These platforms are great opportunities especially for local and regional promoters who do not have TV or media contracts».
Youtubers who approach boxing, such as the very famous Logan Paul, create millions of new fans and views. How will noble art relate to these hybrid events between sport and entertainment?
“Matchmaking is a fundamental part of boxing. This leads to collecting talents of all kinds, but at the same time the inconveniences must be avoided. Logan and Jake Paul have been boxing for many years, they love and respect the sport, they are bringing new fans to boxing. Other influencers, athletes from other sports, and celebrities are also coming into the boxing world. A few months, or even a year of training can never fill a lifetime of experience. Most of our champions have dedicated every minute of their lives to boxing. Getting fit is different than being a boxer. In fights of this kind it is important to limit the rounds and monitor the technical level of the opponents. It is also essential to define what is a demonstration and what is a fight. The age factor is also to be taken into great consideration.
What do you think of women's boxing?
“It has made great strides and I foresee even greater progress in the next ten years. We need to get the promoters to seriously consider the issue of "purses" for women boxers, they deserve more money."
I can't help asking him: who could become the next Mike Tyson?
“There will never be another Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Nino Benvenuti, Marvin Hagler or Manny Pacquiao, they are unique champions. The heavyweight division is really changing over the years, with lifters getting bigger and bigger. However, having a great personality remains the guarantee of success. A good indicator for future talent is the Olympics. Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Gennady Golovkin and Oscar De la Hoya have all won a gold medal. Manny Pacquiao, Julio Cesar Chavez and Carlos Monzon reached the top with an even more difficult path. A heavyweight superstar needs knockout power, an iron chin, an unstoppable will to win, and a dazzling personality to capture the hearts and minds of fans. We keep our eyes peeled!"
Is there a boxer who could become a big star?
«Ryan Garcia is a young boxer who has already achieved a lot of success. He had the courage to take a break from boxing to address some concerns, now he's back. It's important not to place too many expectations on young fighters' shoulders. It is our responsibility, the coaches, the promoters to give young boxers time to fully realize their potential. Patience produces great results."
Muay Thai has been in WBC for over 15 years. Will he be able to be a partner even in the frames of stellar encounters?
«We include Muay Thai in the most important evenings to give a taste also to the fans of this wonderful sport. The King of Thailand had personally requested my father to carry out this task which over time has turned into an extraordinary synergy. Don Josè gave his Majesty his word, in his life my father always made an effort to keep his promises. Many champions gratefully testify to this effort. We will do great things with boxing and Muay Thai».
