The final bell tolls for Don Jose Sulaiman, a giant in his time

The final bell has tolled for World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman who was unmistakably a giant in his time and steered the WBC to new heights under a nearly 34 year stewardship.
 
He was 82.
 
For sure Sulaiman has been subjected to bitter and sometimes mean criticism by some  boxing writers for the things he did and the things he failed or refused to do. However, one thing that stands out is his unmistakably sincere affection and respect for the Philippines and its boxers,  two of whom – “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao and the late world junior lightweight champion Gabriel “Flash” Elorde were among his all-time favorites.
 
Pacquiao was a particular favorite of Sulaiman who always told us that Manny may have won the belts of other organizations but he would always remember him as a WBC champion whose first title was the famous green and gold belt he won with a spectacular 8th round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul on December 3, 1998 on the outskirts of Bangkok.
 
But Sulaiman’s all-time favorite was the late world junior lightweight champion  Gabriel “Flash” Elorde who was honored in New York on the 20th anniversary of the WBC as the greatest 130 pound champion alongside the classy Nicaraguan, Alexis Arguello.
 
In a special message included in a documentary produced by Viva Sports on “The Flash Elorde Story” Sulaiman said “I am one of the people that thinks of Flash Elorde as one of the greatest fighters who ever lived not only in the rng but also as a human being.”

Sulaiman recalled “I met him by seeing a couple of his fights and afterwards in 1953 when we had a meeting at the United Nations in New York, Elorde was there with his entire family and received a gold and green belt that did not exist at that time.”

Sulaiman said “I remember him with his tears of pride of dignity and honor” noting that “boxers like Flash Elorde do not exist anymore. Today boxing is how much money and with whom am I going to fight. Elorde would say 'When? I’ll be there.'”

The WBC president said “I think Flash Elorde stands in the WBC as an example to the young people and the people of the world and I take this opportunity to send to his family and all of the Philippines, my gratitude for having had such a great boxer and my hero… Flash Elorde.”

 
Respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym told Yahoo Sports Philippines that “the demise of Sulaiman is a big loss to boxing as he is not only an icon but one of only a few pillars of prizefighting and a respected friend of the Philippines.”
 
Well-known boxing judge, journalist, and broadcaster Salven Lagumbay said “we lost a great icon in boxing just like our friend Rudy Salud.”
 
Sulaiman succeeded the late Justiniano Montano Jr, the former chairman of the Games and Amusements Board, as president of the pre-eminent boxing organization in the world and became a bosom friend of the late lawyer Rudy Salud who crafted the  constitution and by-laws of the WBC and was its first secretary general and chairman of the Ratings Committee.
 
Sulaiman was unanimously elected WBC president in December 1975 when Salud declined the move to have him succeed Montanao, a longtime friend and associate.
 
Don Jose underwent major heart surgery at the UCLA Medical Center last October and after an initial setback his son and WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman told us his father, like the true fighter he was, turned things around.
 
Later, Mauricio disclosed that Don Jose who failed for the first time to attend the Annual Convention in Thailand last December had suffered complications and in the end succumbed.
 
Its believed that the major heart  surgery, his age and his being overweight eventually took its toll on the legendary WBC president who has done more to strengthen the WBC and to enhance the sport of boxing than any other individual.

 
Sulaiman last visited the Philippines during the highly successful WBC Annual Convention hosted by then GAB chairman Eric Buhain in November 2007 and spent a  most enjoyable time over lunch with Salud’s family in his La Vista home where they reminisced about the sport and their years of friendship.
 
It was this abiding friendship and mutual respect between Sulaiman and Salud that enabled former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa to remain as No. 1 flyweight contender despite two defeats which Sulaiman recognized as somewhat controversial. He gave Penalosa, based on the appeals of Salud, successive shots at the world title.
 
In one of his last acts, Don Jose elevated “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao to No.1 welterweight contender in an effort to push champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. into facing the Filipino sports hero in a fight the world has long wanted to see but Mayweather balked and indicated he would probably relinquish the title.
 
Sulaiman, in one of our many overseas telephone conversations before he entered hospital told us he was quietly working behind the scenes to move negotiations forward to get the megabuck fight to happen but he passed away before his efforts bore fruit, if they ever will.
 
A Mexican of Lebanese descent, Don Jose Sulaiman fought tooth and nail to prevent the world amateur boxing organization’s efforts to encroach on the pro ranks and discriminate against professional boxers who declined to come under the AIBA umbrella and would thereby lose the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.
 
Sulaiman was  an amateur boxer and later became a trainer, referee, judge, and even a promoter. He made his mark as an  administrator who earned the support and respect of not only the board of directors of the WBC but also the top executives of various boxing organizations.
 
It was under Sulaiman’s stewardship that several new measures were introduced to ensure greater safety for boxers and to look after their post-career lives.
 
One of the major changes was reducing world championship  bouts from 15 rounds to 12 with the official weigh-in taking place 24 hours  prior to a fight.
 
Sulaiman was instrumental in the creation of intermediate weight divisions while one of his crucial efforts was geared towards the establishment of the World Medical Congress.
 
He ensured the funding for a brain research program at UCLA. Under his leadership the WBC broadened its global reach to include over 160 affiliated national organizations and in his time the WBC sanctioned over 1,100 world title fights.
 
Don Jose was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2007.

 
In November 2007, we had a lengthy TV interview with Don Jose Sulaiman in which he made what we felt was an emotional statement and spoke of his desire to bring China into the mainstream of pro boxing. He succeeded in doing so when Xiong Zhao Zhong won the vacant WBC minimumweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Javier Martinez Resendiz in Kunming, China on November 24, 2012. This inspired Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to move into China by signing up two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming and begin promoting big time fight cards in Macau which, last November 24 was headlined by Pacquiao against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in a fight the former one won in spectacular fashion.
 
Sulaiman who faced what fate had in store for him said “I believe that I am much more close to my end than my beginning – I don’t know how many years of my life my God will give me. But I will dedicate the last days of my life to bring open boxing to the world. China within 25 to 50 years I believe will be the No. 1 country or close to No.1 of the world. The opportunities in China are unlimited. The potential for the financial structure of anybody is very, very fair. The WBC is holding its 46th convention next year right after the Olympic Games. They will probably after that and during our convention accept professional boxing also as official. As of today it does not exist. If China goes to that and after having seven finalists in the amateur tournament for the Olympic Games I believe that the future of China is unlimited.”
 
In praising the Philippines hosting of the 2007 WBC Convention at the historic Manila Hotel, Sulaiman told us  “We have never had a convention with this organization. Everything to the second. Everything in good order. Never have we thought that it was going to happen here. When I came here for the first time for the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ it was the first time I knew the Philippines. After that I’ve been very close. I am very grateful, very happy to see so many smiling faces of the Filipino. To see how they love boxing, how they love the heroes of boxing..how they bring Manny upwards like a phantom that will be the role model for many other Filipinos to get to his position. I am very appreciative and I hope that the WBC will leave a mark in the Philippines and from here boxing will go to a better direction—a direction of unity - direction of liberty- no monopoly – opportunities for all. I hope that we can accomplish more rules for justice and for the sake of the sport.”
 
In a reference to his dear friend the late Rudy Salud who was given the “Lifetime Achievement Award" at the gala dinner, Sulaiman said “ Rodrigo Salud was the person that inherited to me the secretary general of the WBC. I watched him working in the WBC conventions and he has been my mentor because his style, his mental attitude, the way of approaching things is what I really learned from this man – a man who is a great Filipino and for that reason we came to his own home to tell the world and the Philippines that you have a great man that has left a great mark of his passing through life in the sport of boxing. I really like this man, admire him.”
 
Sulaiman’s biggest hero was unquestionably Elorde and in 1963 the WBC elected Elorde as one of the greatest and inscribed it in the history and the Hall of Fame of the WBC.
 
Elorde, his wife Laura and the family flew to New York where in a ceremony at the United Nations Elorde, in the words of Sulaiman, “received the WBC championship belt with great honor and believe me with tears. When I went to his home the other night for dinner to the gymnasium I was so happy to see in a very special place the green and gold belt that the great Flash Elorde received in 1963.”
 
In ending our lengthy conversation the amiable WBC president told us  “I hope you understand that I am a very humble person. I am very friendly and frank,. I never speak what I don’t think. I want to help people. I live to serve other people. I am also a warrior. I’m a fighter and when I see the abuse of authority and when I see monopoly when I see that there is something that the rest of the world must fight, I fight. “
 
Don Jose Sulaiman eventually lost the good fight but he went the distance with a fighting heart, a buoyant spirit and remarkable care and concern for the fighters who brought joy and excitement to millions of fans around the world and a sport which he loved with unbridled passion.
 
A true personal friend and a friend of Philippine boxing has passed away. We pray that he enters the ring in the heavens and may God embrace him, like many of us did because, in the end,  when you weigh his life you will realize that Don Jose was a good man and someone we were privileged to call a friend. 
 
Farewell and God bless esteemed friend. Our sincere condolences to Mauricio and the family of Don Jose.