BOXING IS NOT A GAME

By Osvaldo Anaya Oliver –

VIDEO: http://www.eluniversaltv.com.mx/videos/v_1_gq3gko14.html 

A professional boxer is trained to hurt the opponent, while his counterpart the amateur boxer focuses on scoring points.

Although both of them use gloves and climb into the ring, Mauricio Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council says that the two sports are different,  and allowing  fights between amateurs and professionals is dangerous.

This is precisely what it could happen this Sunday at the Pre Olympic qualifiers in Venezuela, where more than 100 boxers will contest 26 places in  the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in a tournament sponsored by the AIBA (International Boxing Association). We asked  Mauricio Sulaiman about his stance, and he expressed his condemnation, clearly warning that if something to regret occurs,   it will certainly fall on the conscience of the organizers.

“That boxers who`ve already formed and developed climb to the ring to fight inexperienced fighters  is something very serious. We hope there there will not be a tragedy. I am confident that few  if any major boxers will participate in the process, because everyone has rejected the idea so far. It’s like asking the  Mexican soccer  team play against the U-17. There  is just no way to compare the level, but  that would not go beyond a humiliating score. The obvious difference is that  Boxing is not a game, we’re talking about jeopardizing physical integrity!”

He continues: “There are two different sports. This time they are removing the headgear from fighters. In professional boxing you train for a long period, to fight four, six, 10 or 12 rounds. The amateur boxer prepares to be in competition and have several fights in a short period. I would like to see a professional that after training for a fight, has  to maintain the same weight for 15 days. ”

In an interview with El Universal. Mauricio stressed that the WBC will ban for two years any professional fighters who participate in this competition. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) also will punish its fighters, but for a year, while the other two boxing bodies, World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) have not yet announced sanctions.

Sulaiman, who led the WBC since the passing of his Father, Don Jose, believes this tournament will be a failure, because they used false propaganda including names like Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, but  he really doubts that any renowned professional boxer will compete.

What advice would you give to Joselito Velazquez, who lost a controversial decision in Azerbaijan failing to earn his Olympic ticket, and  now he will be competing once again in Venezuela?

“It’s a complicated issue. If he get to Venezuela and fights  against a professional, we’ll see. But I think  there won`t be any professional fighter willing to fight against an amteur. ImagineJ “Chocolatito”Roman Gonzalez, the WBC flyweight champion fighting!  The WBC will always protect the boxer.”

How do you see the Olympic team? We have 16 years without Mexico conquering a medal. Our country used to be an International power in Olympic as well as  professional boxing.

“Boxing was the sport that most medals were won by Mexico until the last Olympics. It’s embarrassing. I am  sad to see how there is no structure or platform. I will not talk about people or groups, it simply does not exist. Amateur boxing has not been  developed.  There are endless amounts  of testimonials from people,  who have suffered abuse of power and lack of ethics on how to conduct  things and here are the results.

Do you think Mexico will conquer a medal?

“I do not know. I prefer to  only support those who will go. Hopefully, Mexico will win ome medals.