Giant WBC

By James Blears

The nerve center, the heartbeat and soul of the World Boxing Council Convention in Thailand.

By far the largest Convention in World Boxing, which aims to better the Sport, through cooperation, communication and then action, it is a giant with needs to meet effectively, in order to fulfill its obligations.

The sixty third WBC Convention combined with the 1st WBC Muay Thai Convention in the Marriott Marquis Queens Park, Bangkok, November 30 to December 5th, is symbolically akin to an elephant, which is the proud symbol of Thailand. It’s a powerful colossus, with a capacity for a long memory. So, as Don King is fond of saying: “My magic lies in my people ties.”

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has been meeting daily with his staff-team, leading up to the opening bell, coordinating, seeking points of view, amending, adapting and discussing strategy, so everyone is on the same page. The meeting room is kitted out with a brand new photo copier, to make sure this is literally as well as figuratively a reality. A facilitator and abilitator.

The core, heart, soul and essence of the World Boxing Council is its people, and this is something that Mauricio never forgets. He explains: “Our first goal is to make sure everyone arrives safe, and that everybody is treated with respect and the feeling of being special. Every single person who has traveled the world to be at our Convention, deserves to receive the very best.

“People travel from around the world to see each other. Many of them have not met up for one year or more and we all build everlasting memories. From a breakfast, a meeting, a luncheon or an award dinner, or chatting in the hallways. So, it is one of our top priorities, to insure everyone arrives and departs safely, until the next time.”

The working mechanism is the sum of many similar but also diverse parts, so the fundamental key to things running like clockwork, is day by day and minute by minute attention to detail plus able facilitation through practical communication.

Mauricio says: “There are so many moving parts between the local organizers, the WBC headquarters in Mexico, WBC members, committee chairmen, Board of Governors, and everything has to take place in just one week. “This is because there are countless meetings that happen even at the same time. We have workshops, training for ring officials, training for doctors, the WBC Cares visit outside the hotel, social responsibility events and boxing events. So many different moving parts, which require an absolute, dedicated and flawless administration of the Convention.”

The sheer numbers invited and involved, requires this meticulous focus and consideration of the highest order. One thousand five hundred people are registered, plus local people and a capacity for yet more. It’s a challenge to be met, welcomed and dealt with efficiently, effectively and in a caring manner. As good manners cost nothing.

Mauricio smiles as he comments: “It is very challenging, humbling and encouraging, but at the same time every year it becomes more difficult to handle. Because, we’re not organizers of Conventions, we are a boxing organization, where we have our own expertise. It is a great challenge and it is very rewarding.”

Mauricio stresses that the World Boxing Council has chosen Thailand for a number of its Conventions: “Because Thailand is a boxing country, Thailand is the land of smiles, it is a place where many beautiful people dedicate with passion, to make a Convention become a success. It has been the leadership of General Kovid Bhakdibhumi and his son Thanapol, to have taken upon themselves to have organized the Conventions. Without our local hosts, it is not possible to hold a successful Convention.”

The key to success is to walk the talk, making boxing safer for the fighters and to achieve aims as well as goals of quality through consensus, while applying liberal dollops of elbow grease. Earth, wind and fire…for blood, sweat and tears.

Mauricio says: “Success is when we accomplish the Agenda, when the Ratings and Mandatories are fulfilled with absolute open honor, transparency and justice. And the reports from the committees are satisfactory, showing a strong plan of action for the following year.”