IN A laudable effort to try to establish new ways of protecting fighters, World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman told The Standard that the premier pro boxing organization in the world has a two-year program with UCLA, the University of California in Los Angeles and the World Anti-Doping Agency, headed by Dr. Margaret Goodman, to eradicate if possible, the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
In an exclusive interview at the 16th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Annual Awards at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, Sulaiman said: “We are doing testing which is out of competition. It’s random testing and basically we want to teach the kids that some of these substances are harmful.”
The WBC president noted that some of these substances when taken by footballers or baseball players “you are scoring, but when you take a substance in boxing you are punching another person.”
“There are terrible side-effects on the kidneys, the heart, the liver. So we need to educate fighters, trainers and managers. It’s a system that needs to be incorporated in the WBC rules,” Sulaiman emphasized.
Discussing the planned July mandatory title fight of No.1-ranked Jonathan Taconing of the Johnny Elorde stable, who faces newly crowned light flyweight champion Ganigan Lopez, Mauricio said he believes that Taconing “will be a new world champion because he is a great fighter and will take the opportunity.”
“The Philippines is one of the top five countries in boxing in the world. I wish to return to the country to meet more people because I am sure many Filipinos will be fighting for world titles in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sulaiman has been made an “Adopted son of the City of Bacolod,” the picturesque coastal town in the Visayas region.
Sulaiman attended the 54th Convention of the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation as guest of OPBF and Philippine Games and Amusements Board Chairman Ramon “Monju” Guanzon.
The prestigious title was bestowed on Sulaiman in recognition of all his multi-achievements in boxing, among them the fostering and boosting relations between all the member nations of the OPBF, continuing the great legacy of his esteemed father, the late Don Jose Sulaiman who always showed tremendous respect for Filipino boxers and officials, including former WBC president Jutiniano Montano Jr. and general secretary, the late lawyer Rudy Salud, who drafted the WBC Constitution and By-Laws and was referred to by Sulaiman as “an icon of boxing.”
Unanimously elected to succeed his father Don Jose, Mauricio said he was delighted to receive the distinction and that his leadership is an honor to his late father, who worked tirelessly to dignify the sport and his commitment to especially protect boxers, while taking boxing to every corner of the world.
The WBC chief praised the work done by the OPBF and reaffirmed the on-going commitment to continue working with and for boxing.
During the Elorde Awards, Sulaiman was embraced by the fans as well as the boxers following an emotional and touching address, after which he awarded all the boxers a classy gold-plated WBC medal which thrilled the recipients no end.