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March 2024
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Round 12: Life Changes

Round 12: Life Changes

By Mauricio Sulaimán – Son of José Sulaimán – WBC President

Invariably all the conversations in recent months touch on the topic of the pandemic and the harsh effects it has had on the world and our very lives.

It is very common to hear “how life has changed” or ” we are living in  a different world.”

Putting aside the pandemic, the reality is that we actually live a very different life than the one we knew. Those from my generation grew up in a much different environment, we grew up even more differently from that of my parents’ generation.

I was born when the fax did not exist and today it has disappeared. There was no email, cell phone or social media. I was born with music played in albums, then cassette tape arrived, the Betamax or VHS, then the CD and then the DVD replaced everything, today non of those are needed nor used to listen to music.

The social dynamics were very different. We played in the street, came and went to the park or to friends houses without anyone having to worry about our security. Back then teachers had all the power and ruled  and had absolute authorization from the parents to act firmly.

At the Sulaiman  house, Doña Martha, (my mother) even to this day,  absolutely rules, she is the one in charge  ; It only takes her to raise an eyebrow to make us freeze, when it happens, we know we are in trouble ! She dedicated her life to educate us children to be respectfull.

That life that I knew has forever changed, not because  the Covid pandemic, it was the natural evolution of humanity. Is it my children’s fault that they are so different from the way I was? No. It is not anyone’s fault, as this is the reality to which we must adjust, life has been changing constantly and rapidly.  Currently, it is the child or teenager who is in charge at home , it is the kids who rule in the classroom .

Sports have also changed  in all aspects. The love and loyalty to the jersey no longer exists. It is increasingly rare for an athlete to make it’s entire career with the team of his love. My father used to  mention it constantly, before  boxers used to ask  ” who am I fighting against? “ ,  Now they ask ” how much are they going to pay me?”

Mr Money rules . It is wrong? No, it’s just the way that things are today. For decades, professional sports was an activity with great popularity that gave throw  and excitement to fans, while it evolved to become a wealth-generating industry.

For many years the sport depended on the box office, the athletes’ salaries were moderate and in the vast majority of cases moderately basic, so they were played for the love of the sport. Then came radio, television and pay-per-view! Today digital platforms are also being added. The sports industry is one of the most powerful And far reaching in the world. There are more and more millionaire athletes and in general, today,  the athlete is the boss.

Perhaps this pandemic, and the adjustments that it is forcing us all to make, will manage to return some lost values to our homes and why not, also to the sports industry.

Did you know?

The first million dollar box office was generated in boxing. It was on July 2, 1921 in New Jersey when world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey defended his title against Georges Carpentier for a box office of $1,800,000. This figure`s comparability, adjusted to 2020 is above 50 million dollars, thus being one of the 3 highest grossing in history, behind Floyd Mayweather Vs Pacquiao and Vs McGregor

Today’s anecdote

One of Don José’s favorite boxers was Ken Norton because of his loyalty to the sport and his dream of becoming a WBC world champion.

Norton fought 3 times against Muhammad Ali. A victory, a draw and a controversial, close decision loss for Ken. Eventually in 1976 Norton earned the position of mandatory  challenger for champion Ali. But in February 1978 Leon Spinks provided an extraordinary surprise and defeated the legendary champion. My dad used to proudly recounted what happened then “We ordered the mandatory Spinks Vs Norton fight but the promotion wanted to have a rematch with Ali” .

“They offered Ken Norton 500 thousand dollars to accept as a “step aside” and he said NO, I want the championship, then they offered him 120 thousand dollars purse to fight against Spinks (thinking that then  he would accept the step aside) but he accepted those terms  and signed the contract The very next day the promotion announced the Spinks Vs Ali rematch ”

It was then that the World Boxing Council ordered the fight for the vacant title and thus Ken Norton became WBC heavyweight world champion. Glory over money and for that reason he kept a very special place in my dad’s heart

I appreciate your comments at contact@wbcboxing.com

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  • User AvatarReynaldo Solorzano { Muy merecido hoenaje a mi querisimo amigo Nacho te felicito mi nacho } – Sep 04, 12:17 PM
  • User AvatarPerez { The mayweather vs pacquiao fight was garbage like any other mayweather fight. Waste of money. It staged the obvious that Floyd mayweather bought the whole... } – May 04, 12:23 PM
  • User Avatarchirimicato { IRMA GARCIA ES LICENCIADA EN DERECHO, POLICIA FEDERAL, MADRE DE DOS NIÑOS Y CAMPEONA MUNDIAL , no hay punto de comparacion insisto la chica esta... } – Jan 18, 11:20 AM
  • User AvatarRuth Ortiz { Fué una gran persona . Revolucionó el Boxeo. Gran visión y con mucho carisma. Descanse en paz. Saludos. } – Dec 11, 11:13 AM
  • User AvatarDavid { que un gran campeon en mi ciudad tenga un gimnasio con su nombre, asi me animo a practar box. Doculife } – Nov 29, 11:44 AM
  • User AvatarDavid { Excelente noticia, que un gran campeon en mi ciudad tenga un gimnasio con su nombre, asi me animo a practar box. Doculife } – Nov 29, 11:41 AM