The Weigh-In Revolution: Don José Sulaimán’s Visionary Legacy Against Dehydration

Don José Sulaimán Chagnón, the man who not only presided over the World Boxing Council, but also humanized and modernized the sport of boxing, achieved great milestones throughout his career, which we continue to honor and remember.

In the chronology of modern boxing, there is a clear “before and after” regarding the implementation of the official weigh-in 24 hours before the fight. This measure, conceived and defended with determination, common sense and humanity by Don José, transformed a sport that until then had ignored one of its most silent and lethal dangers, which was severe dehydration.

Before this reform, boxers were required to hit the scales just hours before entering the ring. This forced athletes to compete in a state of extreme fragility and lingering dehydration.By attempting to make weight on the same day, fighters entered the ring with:
1. Vulnerable Brains: Cerebrospinal fluid, which acts as a shock absorber for the brain, is drastically reduced by dehydration, leaving the organ exposed to fatal injuries from any impact.
2. Physical and Muscular Exhaustion: Without time to recover glycogen and fluids, the body operated at the brink of collapse, increasing the risk of cardiac failure.
3. Diminished Reflexes: A dehydrated boxer lacks the reaction capacity needed to defend themselves properly.
Don José, after consulting with eminent medical specialists, understood that same-day weigh-ins were a disguised “death sentence.” Despite stubborn resistance from sectors arguing this would allow boxers to enter the ring much heavier than their category, Sulaimán stood firm. With the 24-hour weigh-in, athletes were granted a critical recovery period, allowing the body to rehydrate properly and ensuring cerebral protection and muscular energy returned to safe levels. This has saved lives.