World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Picture by Alex Caurezma/Goossen 168lb belt vacated to keep it active World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman has confirmed what Sakio Bika stated in a recent interview with WBN – that the WBC super-middleweight title is indeed vacant. Former world champion Bika, 33, told WBN that he will fight for the full title next month, at the same time that reports indicated that he was fight Nikola Sjekloca for the interim version on February 16 at the Boardwalk Hall. Sulaiman has now rubberstamped the fact that Andre Ward has been relieved of his title as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but did reinforce that the American will fight for the 168lb belt upon his return to the ring. “Due to the unfortunate fracture of Andre Ward and the long time that he would be put in recovery the WBC has voted in favour of naming him as the WBC Emeritus Champion,” Sulaiman told World Boxing News. “This is so the rule is followed for not having frozen titles ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Interim belt manufactured for Guerrero v Aydin clash WBC President Jose Sulaiman has revealed his reasons to WBN why Floyd Mayweather was allowed to retain his welterweight title, even when facing a two-month prison sentence earlier this year. Some in the sport, including myself, automatically thought that the pound for pound king would be stripped of his title as he served his time at Clark County Detention Centre from June 1st to August 3rd, which failed to materialize. As mandatory challengers Selcuk Aydin and Robert Guerrero waited in the wings, Sulaiman took a different route and created an interim title, which the WBC only use in exceptional circumstances, in order to keep Mayweather as champion. “The WBC has not had an interim champion for a couple of years at lea st, but we were committed to do it with Guerrero because Floyd Mayweather went to jail and Aydin had been waiting for a longer time than the rules call for,” Sulaiman to...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor WBC President astounded as super-fight remains  illusive Jose Suliaman has  told World Boxing News that the WBC will do all they can to help an agreement to be reached between welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather and Filipino rival Manny Pacquiao. The President of the WBC is willing to talk to the camps of both fighters, without finances being involved in the negotiations - in the hope that the two pound for pound stars come to the realisation that the fight has to happen for the good of the sport. “We all have been very preoccupied in making that fight happen as it is the fight that the world wants. I am really very surprised that it hasn't been able to happen,” Sulaiman told World Boxing News. “The WBC will try very hard to have it made as it would be very good for the sport in general. I am sure that the promoters have tried. Perhaps a convincing effort not involved with the business could help.” The two fighters ...