Round 12: Technological Evolution or Revolution?

By Mauricio Sulaimán. Son of Jose Sulaiman.

We live in an era where technological changes are continuously outrageous and there’s simply no way to keep up with the demand for innovation and creativity for new generations, so this has a significant impact on almost every aspect of our lives, and it’s difficult to directly visualize what is happening.

For the first time in 16 years, our great champion, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, will not be on free-to-air television when he faces the great champion Terence Crawford this coming Saturday September 13th at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Netflix will be the exclusive platform, where the fight can be seen worldwide. Is this digital evolution? Or is it a revolution by this platform trying to crush everyone to position itself in boxing?

Azteca TV, “The Home of Boxing,” as my father christened it when it brought free-to-air television back to the people of Mexico in 2006, has broadcast Saúl’s last 21 fights. Before that, Saúl was on Televisa’s screens, but this won’t happen on the 13th. The Mexican people will be deprived of shouting with joy on the night of this traditional Mexican holiday, cheering on their idol.

Boxing has already gone through this process in the history of its broadcast transformation. Initially, there were thousands of people in arenas and stadiums; then television arrived, which was the first major change, bringing fights to millions of fans. This eventually impacted arena attendance due to the convenience of watching events on TV.

Within the television model, there have also been significant changes. From free-to-air television, came cable TV, which requires a subscription fee. This is how HBO, Showtime, and ESPN had decades of broadcasting the most important fights. A very attractive model was also seen which was Closed-Circuit events, meaning fights were broadcast in arenas, stadiums, and entertainment centers where fans paid to attend to watch the fights live. Then came Pay-Per-View, where events were put on platforms where fans had to pay an amount to buy the signal to watch the fight at home.

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The present is Digital Platforms, the famous streaming. Given that the vast majority of human beings live with a cell phone in hand, these platforms have become the evolution of how we enjoy content.

The reality is that a combination of all these modalities is the perfect formula for success. If they could all interact in some way, it would create incredible harmony for the benefit of the fan, who is the true owner of all programming and content.

I hope Netflix reflects and agrees to allow the most important boxing event in recent years to be seen on free-to-air television for the people of Mexico. The formula is very simple: air it live on Netflix for all those who have the platform, and after Netflix program ends, then enter a delayed broadcast so people can watch that great fight. What a great Mexican celebration that would be! the classic soccer match between América and Chivas ends at 11 PM and people could watch what happened in Canelo vs Crawford.

We live in a world where anarchy reigns. Respect for order and institutions with solid structures are threatened by licentiousness. A tragedy recently happened in boxing when two fighters who competed on the same card in Japan died. This led us to intensely review all the plans for how to make boxing safer for those who step into the ring. In this process of reviewing and implementing safety protocols, we have encountered the reality of today’s world… society is thirsty for blood and aggression, the Roman Circus is back and there is no care for the human beings who entertain those audiences and much less those who promote and make their money off those athletes who in reality are victims of their will to make a living regardless.

There are a number of events that border on brutality, savagery, and are even inhumane. They are not sports; they are social activities where unbalanced fans who like to watch these grotesque spectacles come together.

Boxing has done everything imaginable and practically possible to lower the risk and make it a safe, regulated, and serious sport. Now we see all these activities like Bare Knuckle Boxing, Dirty Boxing, Power Slap competitions, Vale todo, Underground, and an incredible number of variations that are entirely unacceptable.

The World Boxing Council will never give up in its search for new rules and procedures to protect the boxer and will not bend or buckle to popularity, ratings, or the commercial interests of promoters. It is as if the NFL were to reverse its recently implemented rules to protect the quarterback or the strict rules against illegal hits and tackles that were so common for so many years and led to serious injuries for so many players.

Did you know that…

As incredible as it seems, there are those who want women to fight three-minute rounds for the sole purpose of having a “product” for television. The WBC has fought for decades to dignify women’s boxing, and for that reason, there are rules for their protection, and it has been a resounding success story because the facts prove it…

Today’s anecdote…

My father, José Sulaimán, had one of his greatest challenges, in helping women find their place in boxing. His admiration for the female pugilist was fueled by seeing great “ladies,” as he called them, sacrifice and strive to the maximum to find their place in professional boxing. I remember a statement he made at a traditional “Martes de Cafe” weekly press conference… “Those who get into the ring, man or woman, are willing to do whatever it takes to become someone in life; they are relentless warriors, with a sense of pride and courage that pushes them to the limit, and they are willing to do anything.”…Of course a man can fight 15 rounds; before, they fought 30, 45, or until death. Of course a woman can fight three-minute and 12-round rounds; the price they pay is very painfully costly for athletes, their wellbeing, health and longevity. They would risk their lives or the quality of life after their years in the ring. This is totally unacceptable.” “ The only reason for existence of the WBC is to set the rules and standards to protect the fighters”

I appreciate your comments at contact@wbcboxing.com.