“They are the ones that came attacking like a mad dog against everybody in boxing,” said Mauricio Sulaiman to IFL TV.
“We have no issues. We’re very happy. Look where we are. We are in Giza for the greatest fight ever in such a set. So I’m very confident, very at ease.”
Sulaiman then accused Zuffa of targeting the WBC directly during the fallout tied to Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford and recent political hearings tied to boxing regulation.
“Oh, they have. Yeah. Oh, yeah. They have done publicly, verbally, physically actions with actions,” said Sulaiman when asked if he feels the WBC has been attacked.
“What happened in Canelo-Crawford was horrible, horrendous. What has been said at the Senate hearings was horrendous.”
“They said that the WBC as a nonprofit purchased $260,000 dollars of tickets. Of course we did because we support the promoters. We help fans have access to tickets. We support our promotions. We do activations. We do social responsibility.”
Sulaiman also defended boxing’s financial structure while discussing concerns tied to the possible abolishment of the Muhammad Ali Act.
“The money that is distributed in the UFC is 17% for the fighters. The money that is distributed in boxing is 80% for the fighters,” said Sulaiman.
“Everything that was put into the Muhammad Ali Act was for the protection and has been the protection for the boxers to avoid any type of discrimination, abuse, any type of monopolized activities.”
Toward the end of the interview, Sulaiman praised Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya for publicly defending boxing against outside pressure.
“My congratulations to Eddie Hearn for standing up for the sport. Oscar De La Hoya has been vocal,” said Sulaiman.
“They are not standing on the fence waiting to see which way it goes. That’s what people have to do. Stand up, be brave, and don’t let anyone come in and try to bully you.”
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