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By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman / President of the WBC
This final Friday, June 11, a historic occasion was held in Aguascalientes, Mexico, because the Cuban Olympic boxing staff, which has carried out its preparations there in recent times, held a pleasant meet with quite a lot of Mexican skilled fighters on the San Marcos Truthful area.
There have been eight exhibition bouts sanctioned by the Aguascalientes Boxing Fee, with its president Christian Garduño Ortiz. The overall coordination of all sports activities was within the palms of Dr. Manuel Aceves, and the occasion was organized by Gerardo Saldívar. The president of FECOMBOX, Juan Carlos Pelayo, in addition to myself as president of the WBC, have been invited as honorary witnesses of this historic assembly.
The governor, Martín Orozco Sandoval, was current, and he sat with the remainder of the followers, exhibiting an instance of humbleness and love for sport.
Cuba has not permitted skilled boxing since 1959, when the Fidel Castro regime banned skilled sports activities. Cubans have dominated beginner boxing for many years, incomes numerous medals on the Olympics. The legendary, three-time Olympic champion, Teófilo Stevenson, was thought-about on many events to battle the then skilled boxing champion: Muhammad Ali.
Cuba has generated 19 world champions in complete. Child Chocolate being thought-about the best of all, with a report of 136-10-6.
Mexico obtained with open arms and welcoming hearts a small group of boxers who made legendary careers in our nation. The nice Cuban promoter, Cuco Conde, devoted himself to strive his luck right here and arrived with coach Child Rapidez, and fighters José Mantequilla Napoles, Ultiminio Ramos, Luis Manuel Rodríguez and the one one who continues to be alive: José Legra, who now lives in Spain.
Subsequently and, by way of the years, we’ve got seen Cuban boxers who migrated to hunt their fortune primarily to the US, with a number of essential champions rising, amongst them: Joel Casamayor, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Diosbelys Hurtado, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Yordenis Ugas.
What occurred in Aguascalientes was a visionary experiment orchestrated by an ideal boxing fanatic: Fernando Barbosa, who’s a prime govt on this planet of tv, an authorized choose by the WBC, and who has led the ESPN Knock Out program, a frontrunner in broadcasting boxing, as this chain has transmitted elite playing cards no matter nation each single weekend; merely fantastic playing cards with the narration of Salvador Rodríguez and Renato Bermúdez, and quite a lot of particular visitors.
Cuba confirmed an ideal technical, refined degree, whereas the Mexicans sought short-range and aggressive boxing. It was fantastic to see the self-discipline and technique that every fighter adopted to the letter; the nook brilliantly communicated and there’s a good steadiness plus coordination in all motion. The well-known director of Cuban nationwide boxing, Alberto Puig, was current and was very happy with this binational occasion. The general public significantly loved this card and at all times saved an curiosity within the actions of the ring.
We gladly witnessed all of the care that the boxing fee and the organizers carried out: medical examinations, weigh-ins, 10, 12 and 14-ounce gloves; two ambulances, with paramedics at all times prepared, and medical service ringside. The officers within the ring have been all impartial to guarantee a good competitors, and with certified referees for any eventuality.
David Sutherland from Oklahoma, Steve Morrow and Edward Anthony Collantes from California, and Héctor Afu from Panama, gave fantastic performances as referees and judges. The scorecards have been solely a reference as being exhibition matches. On the finish of every battle, each fighters obtained an the well-deserved applause of the general public and a commemorative medal of the historic occasion.
DID YOU KNOW…?
Jack Johnson, who was the African American world champion, and who has simply been commemorated 75 years after his passing, misplaced his title in Cuba.
Johnson needed to go away the US, being prosecuted by regulation for crimes of a racial nature. He fought and defended his title in Paris, Madrid and even fought in Mexico. He misplaced the title in Havana, Cuba, to Jess Willard in a battle that he claimed he threw to lastly succumb.
TODAY’S ANECDOTE
Mantequilla Napoles and Ultiminio Ramos have been very near my father and, due to this fact, to my complete household. It was normal to see them on the Miguel Aleman park, as a result of they attended to benefit from the Vagabundos baseball video games, the place Don José was the supervisor and his 4 youngsters performed each Sunday.
On one event there was an ideal breakfast at residence, earlier than going out to an occasion the place many champions joined my dad. My mother was in a rush, serving the greater than 60 who have been hungry; at that, Ultiminio advised her: “Doña, I can ask you for 2 starry eggs, as a result of I’m on a food plan and the whole lot seems to be scrumptious.”
Time handed and not one of the eggs got here, as a result of my mom forgot it… By the point Doña Martha got here by, Ultiminio commented: “Doña, do you suppose the hen could have laid the eggs?,” adopted by laughter of everybody current …
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