Editorial Mr. Mauricio Sulaiman Index Future fights Posthumous Sports National Award in Honor of Don Jose Sulaiman Deontay Wilder vs Artur Szpilka Raja Amasheh won in Tijuana Danny García vs Robert Guerrero Catherine Phiri new champion Don Rafael García a prodigious "Cutman" Race of Champions Mass in Honor of Don Jose Sulaiman Chagnon CREED red carpet Female Convention in Tijuana Lonnie Ali Best of female boxing 2015 WBC Cares in Tijuana Saul "Canelo" Alvarez Diamond Belt Presentation. Directory: The future is bright, the future is heavy "Alacrán" Torres vs Chionoi “WBC Boxing World” is the official magazine of the World Boxing Council. When does the third judge appeared? Executive Director Mauricio Sulaimán. Current Champions Subdirector Víctor Silva. Marketing Manager José Antonio Arreola Sulaimán Managing Editor Francisco Posada Toledo Translation Paul Landeros / James Blears Design Director Alaín M. Flores Photos Naoki Fukuda Sumio Yamada Alma Montiel José Rodríguez Contributing Editors Víctor Cota (WBC Historian) José Antonio Arreola Sulaiman Juan Pereira James Blears Jamie Parry and Robbie Oliver Paulina Brindis Showing the first place belt for the race and the exclusive wristband for the champions. January is always a distinctive month, and this It was so very emotional to receive numerous year, even more so. We commemorated, with a acts of affection and admiration for my Father. special mass at the Basílica de Guadalupe We are more than committed to redouble the accompanied by all the World Boxing Council effort of maintaining his vital legacy by Family, two years since the passing of my Father. continuing his projects to better boxing and life Some Days later, we gathered at the Mexico´s itself. Presidential Residence to receive the Mexico Sports National Award for my Father. The One tangible example of this, was celebrating the Recognition was presented by Mexico's 2nd WBC Female Convention. The event President, Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto, due to the surpassed and exceeded all expectations and lifetime of achievements, integrity, inspiration goals. It displayed hospitality, humbleness and sports development, caring and so many more the united warmth of the boxing family. All made characteristics, that were so quintessentially possible by magnificently welcoming Tijuana part of the bright and shining spirit of our beloved and Baja California. We are so very thankful and and unforgettable Don Jose. grateful for your hand of friendship and your open arms of kindness. This was such a memorable day for the Sulaiman Saldivar Family and my Mother Doña Martha Saldivar, who was instrumental in the success of Mauricio Sulaiman my Father, and creating as well as nurturing such WBC President a happy and loving family. JOSE SULAIMAN HONORED BY MEXICO'S PRESIDENT ENRIQUE PEñA NIETO The highest honor any Mexican sportsman or contribution, and Jose Sulaiman who led the sportswoman can earn is the coveted Premio World Boxing Council for almost four decades, Nacional, for brilliance, bravery, dedication and won this accolade. It was posthumously awarded for Don Jose's Presidential Palace's famous pine trees and life's work, which primarily focused on other green deciduous trees gently swaying, or transforming boxing into a safer sport, so was it nodding in agreement. much for its hands on participants. In a film of the sports stars there was a The award was presented to Don Jose's Widow wonderful and poignant piece with Don Jose Dona Martha, by. The President, and she then who said: "Mexico is my life and Mexicans are received a kiss and a hug, as she returned to the best in the World.” her seat on the podium from her youngest son Mauricio, who's the President of the WBC. President Sulaiman and President Pena Nieto met during Don Jose's life. Boxing's close knit family dressed up as never before for this special occasion at the In his speech President Pena Nieto paid tribute Presidential Palace Los Pinos, which honored to the unwavering dedication Don Jose had stars of many sports including Paralympics, shown during his almost forty years leading swimming, basketball, Tae Kwon Do, athletics Boxing's most prestigious organization. And and weight lifting. he greeted Dona Martha and the Sulaiman Saldivar plus boxers who were so proudly and Cesar Bazan in an Oxford Blue suit, Isaac affectionately representing him on this so Bustos in a more conservative charcoal gray memorable day. He praised Don Jose's passion suit. WBC international female bantamweight for boxing and the great gratitude this country champion Irma Garcia, resplendent in full and the World has for his life's work. Federal Police uniform. He spoke of the discipline, work and years of Alfredo Castillo Cervantes the Director General sacrifice it takes to be the best of the very best of the National Commission of culture, physical in Mexico. activity and sports, spoke of the discipline, dedication, persistence and repetition which The president concluded by saying all of these make champions. The good days and also the incredible sporting achievements are not so bad days, being objective and individual efforts much for The Presidency or the Government, being reflected in dedicated team work. but for the Mexican people and an ever so The event was held in a marquee, close to the proud nation. imposing statue of Francisco I Madero, open to a breezy, but sunny early afternoon with the THE ICEMAN COMETH! WILDER KO'S SZPILKA The World Boxing Counci heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, succesfully defended his crown for the third time, defeating Polish, Artur Szpilka, by a chilling KO in the 9th round at the Barclays Center in New York. With a spectacular right hook landing crash, bang wallop on Spilka´s chin... It was all over, in true heavyweight one punch dynamite fashion! Up to that point, the fight had been competitive and entertaining with southpaw Szpilka going forward, and causing some problems. But Wilder's jab proved dominant and he intelligently used reach and range to land hard shots, which sapped the energy of his challenger as the fight wore on. RAJA DELIVERS A WAR! WBC Silver Female flyweight champion "Raging" Raja Amesheh retained her crown at the Conventions Center in Rosarito, BC, with a concvincing and non stop attack against lanky challenger Eileen Olszewski. After a quiet uneventful first round, Raja started to attack, but with accuracy, not abandon. She cut down the distance as Eileen's left jab was accurate, but not powerful to keep her off. Raja, who didn't sit down on her stool in her corner between rounds was effective in landing hard rights to body and head and often forcing Eileen to fight at uncomfortably close range. Ahead after announced scores after four and seven rounds, Raja was pulling away. Eileen was sporting an increasing swollen lump under her left eye. From the eight round until the tenth and last round Raja visibly tired, but still had enough left in the tank, in spite of an increasing amount of clinches. Two Judges scored it 96-94. The other had it as 97-93. All for still Silver flyweight Champion "Raging" Raja. GARCIA WINS WBC CROWN Former super lightweight champion Danny Garcia, (32-0, 18 Kos), won the vacant WBC welterweight title with a unanimous decision over former four-division champion Robert Guerrero, (33-4-1, 18 KOs). All three judges scored the bout 116-112. Garcia, who came into the fight as a 10-1 favorite, looked anything but early on as Guerrero controlled the action with his jab and higher workrate despite occasional lead left hands from Garcia that landed clean on the advancing Guerrero. However, from about the fourth round on, Garcia’s accuracy became the story of the fight, as Guerrero continued to throw more punches but was not landing cleanly, while Garcia rocked Guerrero three or four times each round with left and right hooks or the occasional right uppercut. Guerrero closed strong in the final round as the two fighters went toe to toe over the last thirty seconds of the fight, but it was too little too late for Guerrero. This card was the inaugural broadcast of PBC on FOX, from Staples Center in Los Angeles. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said of the fight: "It was a tremendous fight for the WBC Championship. Now we have a champion and it's going to be a great year go come. Amir Khan is the mandatory contender, he is next for Danny Garcia and they must fight by June." PHIRI WINS WBC TITLE AHEAD ON TWO CARDS Zambia's Catherine Phiri is the new WBC Realizing she was behind, Rusita upped the female bantamweight champion after a clash of pace and urgency. It wasn't enough. The clash heads prematurely ended the fight with now ex of heads right at the end of the sixth, left Rusita champ Yazmin "Rusita" Rivas. temporarily unsteady, with a rapidly and badly swelling right eye. After four rounds the rangy long armed Zambian was ahead on two of the three cards. Catherine was deducted a point, but won. The Frequent fierce exchanges with both scoring to scores of the technical decision, for Catherine the head. Catherine's frequency was marginally Phiri were: 59-55 and 58-56 for her and 55-55. higher, yet she was the one who was swollen around the eyes. He has helped more than 40 world champions A STAUNCHING "CUTMAN” Francisco Posada Toledo When many battles end and the Referee raises the him into a legendary figure in the world of boxing. hand of the winner, few pay attention to the ones in that victor's corner. Among them is the With the support of Dr.