The José Sulaimán Fund supports those who need it the most

WBC Press

José Sulaiman, who chaired the WBC for 38 years until his passing in 2014, was responsible for all the major changes introduced by the organization to make boxing better and safer.

Don José had a passion for protecting boxers. He fought tenaciously against apartheid and any kind of discrimination and abuse of power and was recognized by the United Nations for his constant equality efforts and initiatives.

He was moved to see the fighters who were once national and world heroes, end up living in poverty and forgotten by the world. His dream of creating a fund to help boxers in need came true in 2012 when Jean Claude Biver and Hublot partnered with the WBC and together raised a significant amount at an auction of luxury Hublot watches, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the greatest legendary champions.

In 2014, the WBC and the Ring Telmex-Telcel Foundation reached an agreement where it was agreed to provide financial support to the Fund, in exchange for ring officials who participated in fights sanctioned by the body, use the Ring Telmex-Tecel logo in their uniforms.

The José Sulaimán Boxers Fund is independently managed by the Nevada Community Foundation and has awarded more than $ 1.5 million to fighters around the world who have been through difficult times.

During this pandemic, an extension of the “José Sulaimán Boxers Fund” was created in order to provide support during the Covid-19 pandemic to boxers, active and retired, and their families, through food and supplies necessary to survive. The WBC worked with food banks around the world to design boxes of food and supplies that have been delivered to those in need.

The “Covid-19 Fund” has supported boxing people in Nicaragua, Argentina, Thailand, China, Colombia, Spain, the United States, the Philippines, Panama, Mexico among other countries.