Happy Birthday Mauricio Sulaiman

Today is the birthday of World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, who has worked to make crucially important contributions to world of boxing.

Mauricio is continuing the legacy of his beloved Father, Don José Sulaimán, who dedicated his life to the well-being and advancement of the Sport. While creating his own destiny in a new era, containing its own array of challenges plus issues.

Mauricio was born on December 30, 1969 in Mexico City, the youngest son of José Sulaiman Chagnon and Martha Saldivar Morales. Brother of Jose, Lucy, Hector, Fernando and Claudia.

A man passionate and knowledgeable about music and sports, who from childhood was lovingly educated, guided, mentored and nurtured by his beloved father Don Jose Sulaiman, who instilled service to others.

Mauricio graduated in Business Administration from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Estado de Mexico. His academic achievements include two more specialties. A diploma in finance and another in High Responsibility Management by the Association of Presidents from America.

Mauricio was President and CEO of Empresa Controles Graficos, a manufacturing company with three business divisions: printing, security and digital solutions. In 1992 the WBC appointed Mauricio Director of Public Relations and 1994 he was elected Vice President of the North American Boxing Federation (NABF).

In 2004 he took on the responsibility of Executive Secretary of the World Boxing Council. On February 12, 2014, he was unanimously elected President of the World Boxing Council.

During his time leading the world Boxing Council, Mauricio has worked, guided by the multitude of values and principles that his father taught him in more than 38 years at the helm of the WBC, including honesty, responsibility, respect, loyalty, solidarity and the invaluable gift of friendship.

Throughout his Presidency, Mauricio has created, shaped and developed various initiatives. These are the amateur and professional tournaments, active participation in social and reintegration programs, promotion of women’s boxing with the organization of three Conventions, monitoring of the “Jose Sulaiman” Fund helping boxers in need, creation of special belts to commemorate classic fights, plus seminars for judges and referees all around the world.

Also and significantly, the creation of the Clean Boxing Program (CBP) with the alliance cooperation of VADA. Its main objective, apart from the tests, is to comprehensively educate athletes about the dangers and disadvantages that doping can cause, in addition to the penalties in testing positive for prohibited substances, inside or outside of a competition.

Another important action developed by Mauricio, involves working with the foundation of Pope Francis, Scholas Occurrentes, with the task of serving children in search of a better future. This is regardless of religion, race or color and is achieved through sports. Also the pardon granted to Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight champion, by the President of the United States.

This year has been an exacting challenge for everyone, and sport like many other aspects of daily life, suffered a grievous blow. The COVID-19 Pandemic put everyone’s resilience to the test, but the organization led by Mauricio, sought, as has always been the WBC way, to remain active, encourage, inspire and to unite the entire boxing family, and since the beginning of the pandemic, has undertook several key actions.

Starting with the “Stay at Home” campaign, then with champions involving fans to add to the #WBCworkout, so we could all safely stay active. Daily WBC talks in English and Spanish from Monday to Friday, enabling the boxing and sports community to remain connected, engaged, entertained and above all active.

The WBC designed a medical-administrative protocol to return to boxing without fan attendance, so that events could be safely carried out. This document, which led the way, was shared throughout the world and has been very successful in all Continents.

Various social responsibility activities were developed by delivering and providing aid to support the boxing community, especially older people who cannot leave their homes.

“Heroes for Humanity” was one of the most important initiatives, as it seeks to recognize and praise those who from different fronts, bravely and selflessly place themselves in the forefront, by contributing to their communities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This is via extraordinary and courageous initiatives and actions.

For this vital purpose, in each country, a hero is recognized with a scale replica of the WBC Mazahua-Otomí belt.

All of these actions have helped tremendously during the pandemic, and being a man who not only leads the most important organization of Boxing, but is at the forefront of service to others has led Mauricio to win the 2020 National Sports Award in the category of “Promotion, Protection and Impulse.”

We congratulate a remarkable, fine, kind, humanitarian man who, despite having a young beautiful family, spends seven days a week in the task of directing, protecting and developing the World Boxing Council.

Thank you Mauricio. You are our exemplary leader and our valued friend!