WORLD BOXING COUNCIL CHAMPIONSHIP BELT AT NELSON MANDELA HOUSE

On a visit to the residence of the great South African President, Mr. Nelson Mandela, we noticed a WBC world championship belt, which used to belong to the great “Sugar” Ray Leonard, who was presented it to him through our President Don Jose Sulaiman Chagnon.

This was one of several historic acts which Dr. Sulaiman included in the agenda against Aparheid and was recognized at the UN headquarters in New York by the then Secretary General, Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuellar.

The first business on the agenda of Jose Sulaiman, when he became President of the WBC, was to immediately ban south Africa, until the odious system of apartheid was overcome. Nelson Mandela gave twenty seven years of his life, for this monumental liberating change to come to pass. The WBC led the way of the Sports World, in supporting him. A man of immense courage and great conviction, yet kindness, magnanimity and humility, Nelson Mandela, was proud to display a World Boxing Council belt in his home. It is an everlasting honour and privilege for us to have supported him in his triumphant campaign to free his Country and its people from tyranny.

(1990) Nelson Mandela meets with Don José Sulaimán and American boxers who have helped him in the struggle against Apartheid. From left to right: Mike Tyson, Jose Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council; Nelson Mandela; Sugar Ray Leonard, David Dinkins, Mayor of New York; and Joe Frazier.