Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman's son
Fist sports have existed for a long time and have changed over the centuries, but the truth is that they have always been barbaric, brutal, practically inhumane and carried great risks for the competitors. Although the sport had basic rules, for many years there were no regulations regarding the physical fitness, safety or health of the participants.
When my father accepted the presidency of the World Boxing Council, it was on his terms that he would bring about revolution and change, implement safety measures, change the rules and fight against any kind of abuse of power and discrimination.
Research began at UCLA Hospital in Los Angeles in 1978. A $1 million donation from the WBC to study the effects of boxing on the brain produced preliminary results that led the U.S. government to donate a further $50 million to continue the research.
The end result was the implementation of a protocol that is now used in every hospital emergency room around the world, in the treatment of injuries in the military, and in all subsequent actions related to this issue.
In boxing, these findings led the WBC to make many rule changes, primarily shortening world championship bouts from 15 to 12 rounds and holding weigh-ins the day before rather than on the day of the fight.
Compulsory medical testing was carried out for all boxers from the moment they applied to obtain a boxer's licence, annual testing for licence renewal, mandatory specific testing for boxers competing in world championship bouts, testing and evaluations during the week of the fight, on the day of the weigh-in, before entering the ring and after the bout.
Boxers are brave warriors who will step into the ring no matter what. That is why the duty to protect them falls on the governing bodies of the sport and the boxing commissions where the bouts take place. We strive to protect their health. Together we are proud to have saved countless lives and improved the quality of life of boxers after years of fighting in the ring. Many doctors, commissions and members of the boxing industry have worked diligently, year after year, to make boxing safer.
The WBC has organized three World Medical Congresses and countless regional conferences in many countries around the world, where experts come together to give presentations on general and specific topics. Seminars are held to share information, case studies and ongoing work plans are developed, and research, evaluation and discussion continue to take place on adjusting and refining rules, implementing protocols and creating educational programs for all members of the industry. Federations, committees, doctors, trainers, promoters and, of course, the boxers themselves all play a vital role in this.
Last week in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, the 3rd National Medical Congress of FECOMBOX took place in collaboration with the WBC, with the participation of 120 doctors from all over the Mexican Republic. The congress took place in Pueblo Mágico and achieved one of its most successful outcomes.
Very important areas were discussed, including:
- Medical stoppages, periodicity, effective communication between organizations, and its mandatory nature
- Mental health in boxing
- Managing medical services before, during and after the card
- Promoters' obligations when issuing boxing cards
- Nutrition and hydration
- Attention to injuries, cuts and ringside conditions
- Weight, measurements and overall management.
One of the most important platforms for the management of each fighter's medical information has been presented. Developed by Conexión Fácil and its president Andrew Kluger, BOXMED is an application that can be obtained by creating a profile for each person on their mobile phone. The platform is supported by a unique system that allows administrators to support boxing commissions, organizations and, mainly, boxers.
The first thing to tackle on BOXMED is weigh-ins, it will take time but the goal is for all boxers to record their actual weight once a month via video on the platform, monitoring their weight to ensure they don't lose too much weight in the countdown to a fight, and to be aware of weight gain when no fight is scheduled.
Expert testimony from former WBC World Champions Guadalupe Pintor, Rafael “Bazooka” Limon and Tomás Rojas provided important information and provided clear focus and reaffirmation to the topics discussed.
The proceedings from the meeting will be further developed into a work plan to achieve uniformity at national level and some topics will be brought to the upcoming WBC Congress in Hamburg, Germany, where the Medical Committee can explore global implementation.
Did you know that?…
It was concluded that all fighters, regardless of the outcome, must rest for seven days after a bout and must not fight again until at least 28 days have passed, even if they do not do road work during this period.Even if you win with a powerful blow in the first round, the physical, mental and moral effort to make weight and get in the ring is the same.
Today's anecdote is…
It is graduation season now and my mind went back to that wonderful day when I graduated and got my degree in Business Administration from the Tec de Monterrey campus in the State of Mexico. I decided on this profession because it was my father's profession. Since I was a child, I always wanted to be like my father. The graduation ceremony was on my father's birthday, May 30, 1994. One of the most loved people in my life, Mr. Honda, flew in from Japan to attend. The ceremony was held at a ball and it was a wonderful party. My father loved to drive, but for many years he relied on the help of a driver to get to work on the road. His lack of practice was evident in his insistence on driving. Well, that night, after dinner and speeches were over and the dance floor was open, my father decided it was time to go home with my mother and leave Mr. Honda at the hotel. Even now, whenever Mr. Honda talks about that memorable experience, we roll our eyes with laughter. “He was going from lane to lane, honking and talking to me. I didn't see him driving. He was going the wrong way. I thought, that's it!” This is how Don José enjoyed life. He did everything his own way.
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