WBC Reaches Impasse With State Boxing Commission

From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:

“The World Boxing Council has tried by all means, and on several occasions, to reach an amicable agreement with the state boxing commission of Mississippi, as we have done with all other boxing commissions in the United States, for the exclusive WBC super lightweight world title fight between champion Timothy Bradley Jr. and challenger Edner Cherry, as well as for the WBC final elimination fight in the featherweight division between Elio Rojas and Hector Velazquez, which are scheduled to be held on September 13 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

“The WBC retains the exclusive rights of its officially registered trademark – World Boxing Council, WBC – as well as the WBC championship accolade, and on most occasions the WBC reaches amicable agreements with exemplary reciprocity with the boxing commissions in the U.S.A. who are hosting WBC title fights, as in the rest of the world. Without exception, the national boxing commissions of other countries, where we have the closest mutual cooperation and friendship, absolutely accept the WBC appointments of ring officials as well as the WBC rules and regulations in a mutual agreement.

“However, on this occasion the boxing commission of Mississippi has emphatically refused to accept WBC participation. Consequently, the WBC cannot agree to sanction any official WBC world title fight or elimination fight of our organization under these circumstances, as it would be an infringement or violation of the law by using the WBC championship accollade that belongs exclusively to the WBC, without whose approval no fight should be held using our name.

“The WBC has respectfully, amicably, and very humbly contacted the Mississippi commission requesting their change of position, hoping to find their collaboration and reciprocity by extending us the courtesy of accepting the appointment of at least two WBC neutral judges, appointed in mutual agreement, while accepting the appointment of two local officials, as it is customarily done in most states in the United States. Very unfortunately, they have refused and rejected all WBC participation.

“The WBC Board of Governors and I cannot be responsible for any verdict resulting from local officials whose names we don’t even know as of today, and are not registered in the WBC by any boxing commission. Consequently, the WBC has decided to buy three ringside tickets for three judges of the highest certification who are registered in the WBC by specific boxing commissions and appointed by the WBC, and these judges will provide the final and official result for the world of boxing for the WBC world championship fight and elimination fight.

“The WBC will respect the scoring of the Mississippi commission due to their right to do so in their state, but it will not count for the WBC world championship recognition or in the final elimination fight. We truly regret to have been forced to take this action and we would give anything to obtain friendship, mutual reciprocity and an agreement with the local commission, which extended to us no acceptance, nor courtesy for even a conversation.

“We will respect any decision rendered by the local commission, but it will not have any effect on the WBC in regards to the recognition of the winner of the world championship fight and the final elimination fight. The WBC wishes to express our respect and friendship to absolutely all of the boxing commissions of the United States which have been examples of equality, understanding, and mutual respect to the rights of the institutions.

“As the WBC highly respects and has a very good understanding with the Association of Boxing Commissions, we would expect and accept their participation to find a solution that repects the dignity and rights of our organation, with our will to fully cooperate. Otherwise, the WBC will respect, absolutely, the scoring of the three judges appointed by the WBC sitting in the audience.

“We hope that all of the boxing commissions of the United States, with which we have had excellent relations and mutual cooperation, will understand our position. We also hope that the ABC, with which we also have very good relations, will understand and participate as a mediator for an agreement to be reached that will respect the dignity of the WBC.

“May the best man in the ring be the best on the scorecards, with one to become WBC champion of the world and the other the official challenger.”