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Round 12: Oleksandr Usyk, The King Of The Nile
By Mauricio Sulaimán / WBC President / Son of José Sulaimán
As happens every week, boxing provided us with thrills,
stories, and examples of greatness both inside and outside
the ring. Last Saturday, we experienced a truly special
night in Egypt – a historic event that confirmed our sport
knows no borders and continues to grow in every corner of
the globe.
Set against an unbeatable and unforgettable backdrop, the
Pyramids of Giza, our champion Oleksandr Usyk made it clear
that he is among the best in the world. He faced a rival who
proved he was no amateur; he fought the Ukrainian toe-to-toe
and silenced many critics who had insisted he would be
easily knocked out and defeated.
Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight world
championship by stopping Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round,
right as the final bell was sounding. Rico showed tremendous
heart and admirable courage in only his second professional
boxing match.
Many fans debated the referee’s intervention, as there was
only one second left in the round. That is boxing: a sport
of intense emotions where every decision sparks debate. The
most important thing is that both warriors gave their all,
walked out of the ring safely, and left a memorable image in
a spectacular venue.
Egypt welcomed world boxing with extraordinary hospitality.
Seeing a packed arena built exclusively for this event,
passionate fans, and a top-tier production demonstrates that
our sport is experiencing a very significant global moment.
Boxing unites cultures, languages, and continents like few
other sports can.
I also want to recognize the discipline and preparation of
Usyk, who once again demonstrated his winning mentality and
that he is a fighter up to any challenge. Every time he
steps into the ring, he shows why he occupies a place among
the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Our love and
respect go out to Usyk.
In addition to defending his WBC title, he earned the “King
of the Nile” commemorative belt – a precious jewel that we
presented at the end of the fight, which we had the
opportunity to carry to various locations during our tour of
Africa. He also claimed another beautiful prize: the “Main
Event” necklace, the third of its kind we have awarded,
joining the collections of Ryan Garcia and Sebastian
Fundora.
Egypt was filled with great stars of the sport, one of them
being the current face of boxing, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who
took the opportunity to officially present his upcoming bout
against WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli on
September 12th.
I had the opportunity to greet them both and wish them the
best of luck. They will now return to their camps to prepare
for the big fight on the weekend of September 15th, which
will take place in Saudi Arabia and will undoubtedly be a
great battle.
Finally, after nearly two weeks away from home on a working
tour that took me to wonderful places like Barcelona,
Madrid, South Africa, and Egypt, it is time to head home.
The activity continues with a spectacular event: the
presentation of the “Tollan Tlatequi” belt to David
Benavidez.
The commemorative belt for the May 5th weekend was to be
awarded to the winner of the fight between David Benavidez
and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez; it was our proud super
middleweight champion who won that bout, earning this
recognition which will be presented at a spectacular event
this week.
The Tollan Tlatequi belt, which pays homage to the state of
Hidalgo, carries deep Mexican significance. It represents
our roots, our culture, and the warrior spirit that
characterizes Mexican fighters. Benavidez delivered a
formidable performance and wrote another important page in
his career by earning this special recognition.
David has always shown respect for Mexico and the history of
national boxing. His visit will surely attract many fans and
media outlets, as we are talking about one of the most
explosive and popular fighters today.
And after the great event in Egypt, boxing does not stop.
Next weekend, we will witness a fight that excites me
greatly. Lourdes Juárez will defend her WBC world light
flyweight championship against Yokasta Valle, who is moving
up a weight division, in a bout that promises intensity from
start to finish.
Lourdes is going through a great moment in her career. Her
experience, mental strength, and great technique have
solidified her as a worthy world champion. Furthermore, she
proudly represents a historic family within Mexican boxing.
Across the ring will be Yokasta Valle, an internationally
recognized champion and a fighter who always puts on a show.
She possesses speed, intelligence, and enormous
determination. When two champions of that level meet, the
audience is always the winner.
Women’s boxing continues to grow impressively. Today, we see
headline events, sold-out arenas, and fighters turned into
global icons. The Saturday card will be a prime example,
featured in an “MVP” lineup – the promotional company of
Jake Paul, who is giving a great push to women’s boxing.
This fills us with pride and motivates us to continue
seeking opportunities for all athletes.
Another champion who will return to the ring very soon is
O’Shaquie Foster, who will defend his WBC super
featherweight world championship on May 30th against Raymond
Ford. The champion has become one of the most solid and
talented fighters of today.
His elegant style, his defense, and his tactical
intelligence make him a very complicated fighter for anyone.
Each defense represents a different challenge, and I am sure
he will look to deliver another great performance to further
cement his legacy.
In one of the categories with the highest international
growth, Kevin Lerena will defend the WBC World Bridgerweight
championship against Ryad Merhy in an awaited mandatory
rematch. Lerena will look to ratify his absolute dominance
in the division, while Merhy will try to settle scores on
rival territory to crown himself with the emblematic green
and gold belt.
Did you know?
The event last Saturday was historic, as it was the first to
be held at the foot of the wonderful Pyramids of Giza. The
production, the venue, the fights, and the knockouts all
combined to make it an unforgettable night of boxing. Can
you imagine an event at the foot of the Pyramids of
Teotihuacán? It’s okay to dream…
ANECDOTE OF THE DAY
The World Boxing Council was responsible for implementing
the use of the “red card.” It is common for the referee and
the ringside doctor not to speak the same language, or for
the environment to be so noisy that communication between
them becomes difficult.
Miguel Acuña, from Tamaulipas, had the idea of implementing
a red card so the doctor could show it to the referee when
they believe the fight should not continue, avoiding the
need for verbal communication. It was at the annual
convention in South Africa that the WBC voted in favor of
implementing it.
The great referee Arthur Mercante took the microphone,
indignant, and complained that this was an attack on the
dignity of the referee and that it was unacceptable.
My father replied: “My dear Arthur, it was precisely your
last fight that convinced us to vote in favor of this new
dynamic. When Ricardo López was left severely cut by an
accidental headbutt from Rosendo Álvarez, the doctor told
you it was a dangerous cut and recommended stopping the
fight, yet you let it continue.”
To which Arthur responded: “But José, I don’t speak Spanish
and I didn’t understand what he said to me!”
My father burst out laughing and said: “Thank you, Arthur,
your testimony has just ratified the decision made,” and he
went to give his dear referee a hug.
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