This YouTube Cracks Podcast interview (Mauricio Sulaiman with host Oso Trava) features personal recollections about his father Don Jose Sulaiman and boxing legends, reflections on loyalty and the corrosive effects of sudden money and fame, and commentary on contemporary disruptions in world boxing — notably Saudi Arabia's deep investment, UFC's growing role as promoter (including blocking Sulaiman from presenting a belt at Canelo vs Crawford), and the rise of crossover spectacles (Mike Tyson, Jake Paul) and bare-knuckle events.
Chapters
My dad was my hero, my idol, my everything. I didn't understand it as my dad being the president of an organization. I would watch Don King, Muhammad Ali and Chavez all at home eating. They would come home from school and there they would be. I've seen so many people receive a large amount of money so quickly, and the change is brutal, painful. One blow makes you a champion, and with that comes many temptations. And that period of greatness is very sad for those who love that person. One of the saddest moments is when there is a betrayal. And here in boxing, it is common where the concept of loyalty exists in the world of boxing.
A man who has been on the front row of the global ring, but whose real fight has been to keep a legacy alive and reinvent it for a new era. Mauricio has been president of the World boxing council since 2014, a position he assumed after the death of his father, the legendary Don Jose Suleiman. Since then, he has led one of the most influential organizations in the sport with a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and, above all, humanity.
Ms. Mike Tyson and Mr. Tyson. Hey, I'm tired of being with the gentleman. There's no place here for sure. And here we go. Great guy. Mike Tyson. Tyson with Jake Paul. A lot of people say that there was a contract that he couldn't knock him out. It was a terrible event. Why? Saudi Arabia got into boxing hard, and that has caused an absolute and total disruption in world boxing. A few boxers making a lot of money and everyone else being abandoned. Now there's a movement for the UFC to do boxing, and that's a hot topic. Bare knuckle boxing. That's what boxing has been for 50 years. Right now, I'm going to the Canelo Crawford fight, and it turns out out that the promoter is the ufc. As president of the World Boxing Council, they're saying that I can't get in the ring. So who's going to put the belt on the winner? As long as you have two or three security guards in the corner, strong guys to take me out, because I'm going to get in the river.
