Round 12: A Spectacle Of Masses And Millennial Stages
By Mauricio Sulaimán – Son of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC
Boxing is a global sport with a vast history, capable of unleashing boundless passion among fans. Since it was first organized under a modern format over a century ago, it has delivered glorious moments of profound emotion.
Even before the arrival of radio and television, boxing drew massive crowds that packed arenas and stadiums. There were even occasions when exclusive venues were built on flat plains just to host fights that captured the world’s attention.
One such unforgettable occasion involved the legendary promoter Tex Rickard, who had everything ready for a heavyweight world championship fight in San Francisco.
However, three weeks before the event, the governor rejected the petition because one of the fighters was African-American during those horrendous days of racial discrimination. Undeterred, Rickard proceeded to build a stadium exclusively for the bout in Reno, Nevada. Jack Johnson, the first Black boxer to win the world heavyweight title, knocked out the man dubbed “The Great White Hope,” James Jeffries. Notably, that result sparked major race riots in several cities across the United States.
Decades later, the great heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey packed a stadium in Jersey City with over 90,000 fans. Dempsey himself set a record that stood for over 50 years when he drew 120,757 spectators for his clash against Gene Tunney in Philadelphia.
The world heavyweight champion was always considered the most powerful and fearsome human being on the planet. All of humanity knew who the “King of Boxing” was. News traveled across the globe even in the absence of faxes, emails, cell phones, or social media. Everything surrounding that champion was a matter of universal interest.
Then came the golden age of the heavyweights, fueled by the promotional magic and ingenuity of Don King and the undeniable skill of Bob Arum, during the years when Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Joe Frazier dominated the global stage.
The Rumble in the Jungle is perhaps the most famous sporting event in history. Yes, a boxing match. Don King convinced the champion of the moment, George Foreman, to fight former champion Muhammad Ali in the heart of Africa (then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Foreman was the heavy favorite, arriving undefeated after knocking out Frazier and Norton – who, in turn, had both beaten Ali. Nevertheless, Ali fought the fight of his life, knocking out Foreman in eight rounds in a bout watched by more than 600 million viewers in 1974.
Another iconic event was the Thrilla in Manila. The third chapter of the great rivalry between Ali and Frazier took place in the Philippines. This 1975 bout is considered one of the most brutal and dramatic in the history of the sport. The heat inside the Araneta Coliseum in Manila was extreme. Neither boxer stopped trading blows round after round.
At the end of the 14th round, Ali told his corner to stop it, saying he couldn’t go on. His trainer, the great Angelo Dundee, pleaded with him not to stay on the stool. He told him to stand up at the sound of the bell and that then he would stop the fight. When the bell rang, Ali stood up with great difficulty, but the incredible happened: Frazier could no longer come out of his corner, handing the victory to Ali.
Many countries have enjoyed extraordinary boxing events. Mike Tyson inaugurated the Tokyo Dome in Japan. He was then knocked out in the same venue in what remains the biggest upset in sports history. England has hosted memorable clashes at Wembley and Tottenham and several other stadiums. Meanwhile, Australia, Ireland, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, and several cities of the United States and Mexico have all served as stages for world-class mega-events.
This week, an event was announced that has already captured global attention: Oleksandr Usyk will defend his world heavyweight title against the legendary kickboxing champion, Rico Verhoeven. This bout will take place at none other than the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. For years, there has been speculation about holding fights at the Pyramids, the Roman Colosseum, or Teotihuacán pyramids. Today, it is a reality in this millennial setting.
Did you know…?
One of the greatest milestones in boxing history took place right here in Mexico. On February 20, 1993, Julio César Chávez faced Greg Haugen before a capacity crowd at Estadio Azteca, shattering the Dempsey vs. Tunney record with an official attendance of 136,247 people. Don King promoted the event alongside Televisa, and it was produced by Showtime for the U.S. The national anthem was performed by Manuel Mijares, and Televisa put on an unprecedented laser show. It is one of those historical moments where every Mexican remembers exactly where they were when the fight happened.
Today’s Anecdote
On an ordinary day in the life of the Sulaimáns, my father told me: “My son, do me a favor – go to the airport to pick up Don King, and I’ll meet you all for dinner afterwards.” I headed out in my car, and my cousin Manuel in his, as several people were traveling with Don. On the way to the Intercontinental Hotel, at the intersection of Campos Elíseos and Mariano Escobedo, we stopped at a red light. Seconds later, a car cut us off and several men jumped out wielding massive handguns.
Don King went frantic and started shouting. Somehow, I managed to calm him down. When I opened my door, the muggers calmly told me, “Watch and belongings, you son of a…” I simply told Don to give them his watch, and without a second thought, he complied. The suspects ran back to their car and sped off just as the light turned green. I pulled forward and saw a patrol car parked on the sidewalk; I rolled down my window and yelled, “We just got robbed!” The officer turned around and, with great enthusiasm, shouted: “Don King! Can I get a photo, please?”
I welcome your comments at contact@wbcboxing.com.
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