Tag: Mauricio Sulaiman

Roberto Duran being treated for heart issue in native Panama

Hall of Famer Roberto Duran is being treated for a heart issue in his native Panama, according to The Associated Press.

Roberto Duran was receiving treatment for a heart issue Saturday in his native Panama, The Associated Press is reporting.

The 72-year-old Hall of Famer’s family stated on his Instagram account that he has an atrioventricular block, which, according to Yale Medicine, “is a heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat more slowly than it should.”

The Yale website went on: “It’s caused by communication problems within the heart’s electrical conduction system. For some people, the condition doesn’t cause symptoms; for others, it may be life-threatening.”

Duran’s family was anticipating more news.

“We are waiting for results so that we can provide more information on his health,” the family said. “We thank our relatives, friends and all of his supporters who are praying for him.”

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman posted on X: “His family is joined by the world in prayers for his successful and prompt recovery, he is a champion and will win this fight.”

Duran (103-16, 70 KOs) is one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Some consider the four-division champion the best lightweight who ever lived. However, he attained his greatest fame by becoming the first to defeat Sugar Ray Leonard and subsequent achievements.

He was one of the “Four Kings,” with Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, whose fights against one another are legendary.

Roberto Duran being treated for heart issue in native Panama

Hall of Famer Roberto Duran is being treated for a heart issue in his native Panama, according to The Associated Press.

Roberto Duran was receiving treatment for a heart issue Saturday in his native Panama, The Associated Press is reporting.

The 72-year-old Hall of Famer’s family stated on his Instagram account that he has an atrioventricular block, which, according to Yale Medicine, “is a heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat more slowly than it should.”

The Yale website went on: “It’s caused by communication problems within the heart’s electrical conduction system. For some people, the condition doesn’t cause symptoms; for others, it may be life-threatening.”

Duran’s family was anticipating more news.

“We are waiting for results so that we can provide more information on his health,” the family said. “We thank our relatives, friends and all of his supporters who are praying for him.”

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman posted on X: “His family is joined by the world in prayers for his successful and prompt recovery, he is a champion and will win this fight.”

Duran (103-16, 70 KOs) is one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Some consider the four-division champion the best lightweight who ever lived. However, he attained his greatest fame by becoming the first to defeat Sugar Ray Leonard and subsequent achievements.

He was one of the “Four Kings,” with Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, whose fights against one another are legendary.

Amanda Serrano vacates WBC title to protest 10-round limit for women

Amanda Serrano has vacated her WBC 126-pound title to protest the sanctioning body’s 10-round limit for women.

Amanda Serrano has put her title where her mouth is.

The seven-division beltholder has given up her WBC 126-pound title because the sanctioning body refuses to allow women to fight under men’s rules — 12 three-minute rounds.

Women are generally limited to 10 two-minute rounds, which WBC officials say protects them.

Serrano in October defeated Daniela Ramos by a shutout decision in defense of three of her four titles in a 12-round fight. The WBC belt was not on the line.

She made a statement on Instagram to explain her position:

“The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality. So I am relinquishing their title. Moving forward if a sanctioning body doesn’t want to give me and my fellow fighters the choice to fight the same as the men, then I will not be fighting for that sanctioning body.”

“I am the only boxer, male or female, from Puerto Rico to become undisputed champion. I am the only female boxer to have won titles in seven divisions,” Serrano said.

“I am the first female boxer, along with Katie [Taylor] to headline Madison Square Garden. I am the first female boxer to make seven figures from a fight and the same from sponsors.

“And I am the first undisputed female champion to fight 12×3 minute rounds.”

She later told ESPN that she will fight only under men’s rules in championship fights going forward.

“After an amazing fight [against Danila Ramos], we proved to the world how incredible women’s boxing is and that we are just as capable as any man in the ring, and we deserve the choice to be treated equally,” she told the outlet.

“I’ve made my choice, one that I’ve worked many years to earn, and my choice is to continue to only fight 12 three-minute rounds for the rest of my career. Once you break down barriers, you don’t go backwards.

“Women can do whatever we put our minds to, and I hope everyone can respect the progress we’ve made and my choice to continue to compete under the same rules as my male counterparts for their championship bouts.”

Serrano in October was among a group of female boxers that called for the right to fight for 12 rounds in championship fights.

However, the WBC has not budged in terms of its policy. The sanctioning body’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, recently stated on X: “Tennis, women play three sets. Basketball, the basket is shorter and the ball smaller and those are not contact sports. We stand by safety and well-being of the fighters.”

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Amanda Serrano vacates WBC title to protest 10-round limit for women

Amanda Serrano has vacated her WBC 126-pound title to protest the sanctioning body’s 10-round limit for women.

Amanda Serrano has put her title where her mouth is.

The seven-division beltholder has given up her WBC 126-pound title because the sanctioning body refuses to allow women to fight under men’s rules — 12 three-minute rounds.

Women are generally limited to 10 two-minute rounds, which WBC officials say protects them.

Serrano in October defeated Daniela Ramos by a shutout decision in defense of three of her four titles in a 12-round fight. The WBC belt was not on the line.

She made a statement on Instagram to explain her position:

“The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality. So I am relinquishing their title. Moving forward if a sanctioning body doesn’t want to give me and my fellow fighters the choice to fight the same as the men, then I will not be fighting for that sanctioning body.”

“I am the only boxer, male or female, from Puerto Rico to become undisputed champion. I am the only female boxer to have won titles in seven divisions,” Serrano said.

“I am the first female boxer, along with Katie [Taylor] to headline Madison Square Garden. I am the first female boxer to make seven figures from a fight and the same from sponsors.

“And I am the first undisputed female champion to fight 12×3 minute rounds.”

She later told ESPN that she will fight only under men’s rules in championship fights going forward.

“After an amazing fight [against Danila Ramos], we proved to the world how incredible women’s boxing is and that we are just as capable as any man in the ring, and we deserve the choice to be treated equally,” she told the outlet.

“I’ve made my choice, one that I’ve worked many years to earn, and my choice is to continue to only fight 12 three-minute rounds for the rest of my career. Once you break down barriers, you don’t go backwards.

“Women can do whatever we put our minds to, and I hope everyone can respect the progress we’ve made and my choice to continue to compete under the same rules as my male counterparts for their championship bouts.”

Serrano in October was among a group of female boxers that called for the right to fight for 12 rounds in championship fights.

However, the WBC has not budged in terms of its policy. The sanctioning body’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, recently stated on X: “Tennis, women play three sets. Basketball, the basket is shorter and the ball smaller and those are not contact sports. We stand by safety and well-being of the fighters.”

[lawrence-related id=38777]

Report: WBC plans to introduce category for transgender boxers

Report: The WBC is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

The WBC reportedly is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told The Telegraph that the decision was made “because of safety and inclusion.”

Under the plan, boxers assigned different genders at birth would not be allowed to face one another in the ring.

“We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament,” Sulaiman told the newspaper.

“It is the time to do this, and we are doing this because of safety and inclusion. We have been the leaders in rules for women’s boxing … so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen because of what we are going to put in place.

“In boxing, a man fighting a woman must never be accepted regardless of gender change. There should be no gray area around this, and we want to go into it with transparency and the correct decisions.

“Woman to man or man to woman transgender change will never be allowed to fight a different gender by birth.”

Sulaiman emphasized the desire to be inclusive.

“We are creating a set of rules and structures so that transgender boxing can take place, as they fully deserve to if they want to box,” he said. “We do not yet know the numbers that there are out there, but we’re opening a universal registration in 2023, so that we can understand the boxers that are out there. And we’ll start from there.”

British Boxing Board of Control General Secretary Robert Smith told The Telegraph that his organization, which oversees boxing in the U.K., is in a discussion stage.

However, he seemed to say that the BBBofC would also base its policy on birth gender.

“At the moment this is hypothetical but we can see it coming and we are looking at our transgender policy,” Smith said.  “It is what you are born as, as rugby union does. When it does [happen] we intend to be fully prepared. Medical and, perhaps more importantly, legal considerations will have to be taken into account.”

Swimming has been at the center of discussions over how to include transgender women in competition.

FINA, which governs the sport internationally, requires transgender swimmers to have transitioned by the age of 12 to compete against those assigned female at birth.

Report: WBC plans to introduce category for transgender boxers

Report: The WBC is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

The WBC reportedly is planning to introduce a category for transgender boxers.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told The Telegraph that the decision was made “because of safety and inclusion.”

Under the plan, boxers assigned different genders at birth would not be allowed to face one another in the ring.

“We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament,” Sulaiman told the newspaper.

“It is the time to do this, and we are doing this because of safety and inclusion. We have been the leaders in rules for women’s boxing … so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen because of what we are going to put in place.

“In boxing, a man fighting a woman must never be accepted regardless of gender change. There should be no gray area around this, and we want to go into it with transparency and the correct decisions.

“Woman to man or man to woman transgender change will never be allowed to fight a different gender by birth.”

Sulaiman emphasized the desire to be inclusive.

“We are creating a set of rules and structures so that transgender boxing can take place, as they fully deserve to if they want to box,” he said. “We do not yet know the numbers that there are out there, but we’re opening a universal registration in 2023, so that we can understand the boxers that are out there. And we’ll start from there.”

British Boxing Board of Control General Secretary Robert Smith told The Telegraph that his organization, which oversees boxing in the U.K., is in a discussion stage.

However, he seemed to say that the BBBofC would also base its policy on birth gender.

“At the moment this is hypothetical but we can see it coming and we are looking at our transgender policy,” Smith said.  “It is what you are born as, as rugby union does. When it does [happen] we intend to be fully prepared. Medical and, perhaps more importantly, legal considerations will have to be taken into account.”

Swimming has been at the center of discussions over how to include transgender women in competition.

FINA, which governs the sport internationally, requires transgender swimmers to have transitioned by the age of 12 to compete against those assigned female at birth.

WBC to remove Russian, Belarusian boxers from rankings because of war in Ukraine

The WBC announced it will remove Russian and Belarusian boxers from rankings because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The World Boxing Council is taking its stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctioning body, which is holding its annual convention in Mexico, announced Tuesday that all fighters from Russia and Belarus will be removed from its rankings, according to multiple reports.

The WBC, IBF, WBA and WBO had already decided not to sanction fights in either of those countries. Belarus is an ally of Russia.

“All fighters from Russia and Belarus are being removed from the WBC rankings,” Sulaiman said at the convention Tuesday, according to Sky Sports. “The WBC will not sanction any fights in those two countries and no national citizen from those two countries can compete for a WBC championship title.

“I wish to express our deep regret for the athletes, for the promoters, for the members of the boxing industry from Russia and Belarus who will suffer with these consequences of the actions outside the ring. The WBC believes in peace, believes in fair play, and believes human dignity.”

The WBC will consider exceptions for Russian and Belarusian natives who live and train elsewhere, according to BoxingScene.com.

For example, 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol was born in Russia but has lived in the U.S. for many years. Another Russian light heavyweight titleholder, Artur Beterbiev, has made his home in Canada for close to a decade.

However, the WBC has stipulated that such fighters must have “rejected Russian’s actions” to be exempted.

Here is the wording of the ruling: “At the November 6, 2022 Board of Governors meeting, the board unanimously approved the resolution to remove all boxers from either of those countries from the world ratings. Any specific cases of nationals of either of those countries permanently residing in other countries, are citizens of other countries or are refugees, who have publicly rejected Russia’s actions in the current situation will have the right to petition the WBC to reconsider The WBC’s ruling is effective immediately and will stay in effect until such time when Ukraine is able to resume their normal boxing activities or when the WBC revisits its ruling.”

BoxingScene reported that Evgeny Romanov, a Russian, has been removed as the No. 1 bridgerweight contender. Cruiserweight contender Aleksei Papin of Russia also was removed from the rankings.
Many other sports organizations have banned or sanctioned Russian teams and athletes as a result of the war, which began in February and rages on.

WBC to remove Russian, Belarusian boxers from rankings because of war in Ukraine

The WBC announced it will remove Russian and Belarusian boxers from rankings because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The World Boxing Council is taking its stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctioning body, which is holding its annual convention in Mexico, announced Tuesday that all fighters from Russia and Belarus will be removed from its rankings, according to multiple reports.

The WBC, IBF, WBA and WBO had already decided not to sanction fights in either of those countries. Belarus is an ally of Russia.

“All fighters from Russia and Belarus are being removed from the WBC rankings,” Sulaiman said at the convention Tuesday, according to Sky Sports. “The WBC will not sanction any fights in those two countries and no national citizen from those two countries can compete for a WBC championship title.

“I wish to express our deep regret for the athletes, for the promoters, for the members of the boxing industry from Russia and Belarus who will suffer with these consequences of the actions outside the ring. The WBC believes in peace, believes in fair play, and believes human dignity.”

The WBC will consider exceptions for Russian and Belarusian natives who live and train elsewhere, according to BoxingScene.com.

For example, 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol was born in Russia but has lived in the U.S. for many years. Another Russian light heavyweight titleholder, Artur Beterbiev, has made his home in Canada for close to a decade.

However, the WBC has stipulated that such fighters must have “rejected Russian’s actions” to be exempted.

Here is the wording of the ruling: “At the November 6, 2022 Board of Governors meeting, the board unanimously approved the resolution to remove all boxers from either of those countries from the world ratings. Any specific cases of nationals of either of those countries permanently residing in other countries, are citizens of other countries or are refugees, who have publicly rejected Russia’s actions in the current situation will have the right to petition the WBC to reconsider The WBC’s ruling is effective immediately and will stay in effect until such time when Ukraine is able to resume their normal boxing activities or when the WBC revisits its ruling.”

BoxingScene reported that Evgeny Romanov, a Russian, has been removed as the No. 1 bridgerweight contender. Cruiserweight contender Aleksei Papin of Russia also was removed from the rankings.
Many other sports organizations have banned or sanctioned Russian teams and athletes as a result of the war, which began in February and rages on.

Conor McGregor one victory from fighting for boxing title: Sulaiman

Conor McGregor is one victory over a ranked boxer from fighting for a world title, according to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

MMA star Conor McGregor is one boxing victory away from fighting for a world title in the sweet science.

That’s the word from WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who told SunSport that he would be eligible for a title shot if he were to beat an opponent ranked in the  Top 15 by that sanctioning body.

McGregor has taken part in only one sanctioned boxing match – a 10th-round knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 – but he has had great success in mixed martial arts, which Sulaiman said would work in his favor in terms of ranking.

“I would say he needs to face and defeat a ranked fighter,” Sulaiman said. “Then he would be eligible to be ranked and to compete for a title. … We have plenty of examples of Muay Thai fighters who turn professional in international boxing and they are eligible to fight for the title.

“We also have amateur superstars like Vasiliy Lomachenko. They come into professional boxing and fight for the title, and it’s proven it works.”

Sulaiman went on: “If he is to start boxing and proves with victories in boxing then he should certainly be given the opportunity to fight for a world title. We in the WBC consider the amateur career as one of the criteria for rankings.

“And, for example Muay Thai, in Thailand, we consider that career also when they enter into boxing. … Conor has a mixed martial arts resume. So if he comes into boxing and wins a fight against a ranked fighter, he would be eligible to be ranked.

“This is not a rookie entering the sport. He has a long history of combat sports. So it’s a different scenario of what it used to be in the past.”

Sulaiman believes McGregor has ability as a boxer even though he faded down the stretch against Mayweather and was stopped.

“What we saw with Mayweather was of course different with the times, the rounds, it is not the same to fight five rounds to then go 12 rounds,” Sulaiman said. “But he has ability, he has power, he has status as a fighter. But to compete and become a world champion in the WBC, he would need to fight in boxing and by merit be ranked.

“Then he would be in the position to challenge. I don’t know what weight category he would be, but definitely he would need to get a decisive win against a quality opponent to be considered to be ranked.”

McGregor, 32, is focused on his MMA career at the moment – he is set to fight Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 on Jan. 23 – but he has said he would like to win a boxing title before he’s finished.

Of course, McGregor could end up fighting for the belt of a different governing body.

He and WBA welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao have expressed an interest in fighting one another, which presumably means that McGregor could go directly into a title fight if Pacquiao remains champion and the fight is sanctioned when they meet.

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Conor McGregor one victory from fighting for boxing title: Sulaiman

Conor McGregor is one victory over a ranked boxer from fighting for a world title, according to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

MMA star Conor McGregor is one boxing victory away from fighting for a world title in the sweet science.

That’s the word from WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who told SunSport that he would be eligible for a title shot if he were to beat an opponent ranked in the  Top 15 by that sanctioning body.

McGregor has taken part in only one sanctioned boxing match – a 10th-round knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 – but he has had great success in mixed martial arts, which Sulaiman said would work in his favor in terms of ranking.

“I would say he needs to face and defeat a ranked fighter,” Sulaiman said. “Then he would be eligible to be ranked and to compete for a title. … We have plenty of examples of Muay Thai fighters who turn professional in international boxing and they are eligible to fight for the title.

“We also have amateur superstars like Vasiliy Lomachenko. They come into professional boxing and fight for the title, and it’s proven it works.”

Sulaiman went on: “If he is to start boxing and proves with victories in boxing then he should certainly be given the opportunity to fight for a world title. We in the WBC consider the amateur career as one of the criteria for rankings.

“And, for example Muay Thai, in Thailand, we consider that career also when they enter into boxing. … Conor has a mixed martial arts resume. So if he comes into boxing and wins a fight against a ranked fighter, he would be eligible to be ranked.

“This is not a rookie entering the sport. He has a long history of combat sports. So it’s a different scenario of what it used to be in the past.”

Sulaiman believes McGregor has ability as a boxer even though he faded down the stretch against Mayweather and was stopped.

“What we saw with Mayweather was of course different with the times, the rounds, it is not the same to fight five rounds to then go 12 rounds,” Sulaiman said. “But he has ability, he has power, he has status as a fighter. But to compete and become a world champion in the WBC, he would need to fight in boxing and by merit be ranked.

“Then he would be in the position to challenge. I don’t know what weight category he would be, but definitely he would need to get a decisive win against a quality opponent to be considered to be ranked.”

McGregor, 32, is focused on his MMA career at the moment – he is set to fight Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 on Jan. 23 – but he has said he would like to win a boxing title before he’s finished.

Of course, McGregor could end up fighting for the belt of a different governing body.

He and WBA welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao have expressed an interest in fighting one another, which presumably means that McGregor could go directly into a title fight if Pacquiao remains champion and the fight is sanctioned when they meet.

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