Born May 30, 1931 in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Sulaiman spent his life in the sport of boxing. He boxed as an amateur as well as serving as a trainer, promoter, referee and judge.
However, he is best known as an administrator for nearly four decades. At the age of 16 he was on the boxing commission in Valles San Luis, Potosi, Mexico. In 1968 he joined the World Boxing Council (WBC) and quickly moved through the ranks. On December 5, 1975 Sulaiman was unanimously elected president of the WBC and served in that capacity until his passing.
Under Sulaiman's leadership, the WBC instituted many new rules and regulations regarding boxer safety and welfare. Among the changes are reduction of world championship bouts from 15 rounds to 12, the official weigh-in 24 hours prior to each bout, the creation of intermediate weight divisions, creation of the World Medical Congress, introduction of the attached thumb glove and funding of brain injury research programs at UCLA. During Sulaiman's tenure, the WBC has sanctioned over 1100 title bouts and 300 boxers have won world titles. Truly a worldwide organization, Sulaiman has expanded the WBC's global reach to now include 161 affiliated nations.
Outside of boxing, Sulaiman, who speaks Spanish, English, Arabic, Italian, Portuguese and French, successfully operates a medical supply company in Mexico.
Born: May 30, 1931
Died: Jan. 16, 2014
Induction: 2007
Jose Sulaiman
