WATCH: WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman Shares ‘Great Memory’ of His Father With Mike Tyson ‘Before the Tattoo’

Next month, on February 11, it will be a decade since Mauricio Sulaiman was elected as the sixth president of the World Boxing Council. His father, the great Jose Sulaiman, helmed boxing’s premier sanctioning body from 1975 until the day he left for the heavenly abode. Undoubtedly, nearly four decades of dedicated service to the sport fostered cherished, enduring memories. His son, the current head of WBC, offered a glimpse into those bygone days early yesterday morning.

Reportedly, under Jose Sulaiman, over one thousand WBC-authorized title fights took place. It further led to nearly 300 boxers becoming world champions. The sanctioning body now enjoys representation in over 161 countries. So it was nothing short of a Hall of Famer mix that Mauricio Sulaiman shared today through his social media accounts. The picture that may resonate with many would be the one with ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. Given the plethora of his modern-day photos, it wouldn’t be hard to miss one noticeable feature that set the boxing legend apart.

Thank you, Mauricio Sulaiman!

Mauricio Sulaiman wrote, “Great memory from Las Vegas with my father Jose Sulaiman, Dr Elias Ghanem, who has a lovely man and chairman of the Nevada Commission, Dr Ngatane, who is the authority in boxing in South Africa, and the great Mike Tyson before the tattoo! Also, Ricardo Lopez.”

So in the Instagram, the first photo shows (from right) Jose Sulaiman, Mike Tyson, a person who went by the name Dr. Ngatane, who, as described by the current WBC president, appears to be a South African boxing official. Then, finally, there is Dr. Elias Ghanem. Information regarding Dr. Ngatane remains few and far between. However, some information could be gathered about the late Dr. Ghanem. He was chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. But the stint that gave him everlasting renown was reportedly as the personal physician of the ‘King of Rock and Roll’, Elvis Presley.

But perhaps the most intriguing piece in the puzzle would be none other than Mike Tyson. He appears without the trademark Māori tattoo that he got inked in 2003. Then the next slide shows a smiling ‘Iron’ Mike sitting alongside Jose Sulaiman and a boxing great. Unfortunately, very few know about Ricardo Lopez these days. A two-division world champion, ‘The Refined’ from Mexico was a class apart.

Beginning his career in 1985, he participated in 52 fights, never losing a single one. A big-time fan of ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson, he had a stream of admirers; among them stood Mike Tyson, who was also a close friend. The final slide had both the youngest heavyweight champion in history and the WBC’s longest-reigning president, Jose Sulaiman.

Clearly, the set will rekindle and nudge the nook and cranny of many memories. Times have passed by, and some of those in the pictures are no longer there. But it is during moments like these that a sudden serendipitous moment brings them closer to us. We realize how much we miss those years. Many would have a grateful thank-you note on their lips for Mauricio Sulaiman.

Read More: Watch: Mike Tyson Photobombs as WBC President Poses With Heavyweight Legend’s Idol Roberto Duran

What’s your take on the photographs? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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