Round 12: Oleksandr Usyk, the King of the Nile
By Mauricio Sulaimán / WBC President / Son of José Sulaimán
As happens every week, boxing provided us with thrills, stories, and examples of greatness both inside and outside the ring. Last Saturday, we experienced a truly special night in Egypt—a historic event that confirmed our sport knows no borders and continues to grow in every corner of the globe.
Set against an unbeatable and unforgettable backdrop, the Pyramids of Giza, our champion Oleksandr Usyk made it clear that he is among the best in the world. He faced a rival who proved he was no amateur; he fought the Ukrainian toe-to-toe and silenced many critics who had insisted he would be easily knocked out and defeated.
Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight world championship by stopping Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round, right as the final bell was sounding. Rico showed tremendous heart and admirable courage in only his second professional boxing match.
Many fans debated the referee’s intervention, as there was only one second left in the round. That is boxing: a sport of intense emotions where every decision sparks debate. The most important thing is that both warriors gave their all, walked out of the ring safely, and left a memorable image in a spectacular venue.
Egypt welcomed world boxing with extraordinary hospitality. Seeing a packed arena built exclusively for this event, passionate fans, and a top-tier production demonstrates that our sport is experiencing a very significant global moment. Boxing unites cultures, languages, and continents like few other sports can.
I also want to recognize the discipline and preparation of Usyk, who once again demonstrated his winning mentality and that he is a fighter up to any challenge. Every time he steps into the ring, he shows why he occupies a place among the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Our love and respect go out to Usyk.
In addition to defending his WBC title, he earned the “King of the Nile” commemorative belt—a precious jewel that we presented at the end of the fight, which we had the opportunity to carry to various locations during our tour of Africa. He also claimed another beautiful prize: the “Main Event” necklace, the third of its kind we have awarded, joining the collections of Ryan Garcia and Sebastian Fundora.
Egypt was filled with great stars of the sport, one of them being the current face of boxing, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who took the opportunity to officially present his upcoming bout against WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli on September 12th.
I had the opportunity to greet them both and wish them the best of luck. They will now return to their camps to prepare for the big fight on the weekend of September 15th, which will take place in Saudi Arabia and will undoubtedly be a great battle.
Finally, after nearly two weeks away from home on a working tour that took me to wonderful places like Barcelona, Madrid, South Africa, and Egypt, it is time to head home. The activity continues with a spectacular event: the presentation of the “Tollan Tlatequi” belt to David Benavidez.
The commemorative belt for the May 5th weekend was to be awarded to the winner of the fight between David Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez; it was our proud super middleweight champion who won that bout, earning this recognition which will be presented at a spectacular event this week.
The Tollan Tlatequi belt, which pays homage to the state of Hidalgo, carries deep Mexican significance. It represents our roots, our culture, and the warrior spirit that characterizes Mexican fighters. Benavidez delivered a formidable performance and wrote another important page in his career by earning this special recognition.
David has always shown respect for Mexico and the history of national boxing. His visit will surely attract many fans and media outlets, as we are talking about one of the most explosive and popular fighters today.
And after the great event in Egypt, boxing does not stop. Next weekend, we will witness a fight that excites me greatly. Lourdes Juárez will defend her WBC world light flyweight championship against Yokasta Valle, who is moving up a weight division, in a bout that promises intensity from start to finish.
Lourdes is going through a great moment in her career. Her experience, mental strength, and great technique have solidified her as a worthy world champion. Furthermore, she proudly represents a historic family within Mexican boxing.
Across the ring will be Yokasta Valle, an internationally recognized champion and a fighter who always puts on a show. She possesses speed, intelligence, and enormous determination. When two champions of that level meet, the audience is always the winner.
Women’s boxing continues to grow impressively. Today, we see headline events, sold-out arenas, and fighters turned into global icons. The Saturday card will be a prime example, featured in an “MVP” lineup—the promotional company of Jake Paul, who is giving a great push to women’s boxing. This fills us with pride and motivates us to continue seeking opportunities for all athletes.
Another champion who will return to the ring very soon is O’Shaquie Foster, who will defend his WBC super featherweight world championship on May 30th against Raymond Ford. The champion has become one of the most solid and talented fighters of today.
His elegant style, his defense, and his tactical intelligence make him a very complicated fighter for anyone. Each defense represents a different challenge, and I am sure he will look to deliver another great performance to further cement his legacy.
In one of the categories with the highest international growth, Kevin Lerena will defend the WBC World Bridgerweight championship against Ryad Merhy in an awaited mandatory rematch. Lerena will look to ratify his absolute dominance in the division, while Merhy will try to settle scores on rival territory to crown himself with the emblematic green and gold belt.
Did you know?
The event last Saturday was historic, as it was the first to be held at the foot of the wonderful Pyramids of Giza. The production, the venue, the fights, and the knockouts all combined to make it an unforgettable night of boxing. Can you imagine an event at the foot of the pyramids of Teotihuacán? It’s okay to dream…
ANECDOTE OF THE DAY
The World Boxing Council was responsible for implementing the use of the “red card.” It is common for the referee and the ringside doctor not to speak the same language, or for the environment to be so noisy that communication between them becomes difficult.
Miguel Acuña, from Tamaulipas, had the idea of implementing a red card so the doctor could show it to the referee when they believe the fight should not continue, avoiding the need for verbal communication. It was at the annual convention in South Africa that the WBC voted in favor of implementing it.
The great referee Arthur Mercante took the microphone, indignant, and complained that this was an attack on the dignity of the referee and that it was unacceptable.
My father replied: “My dear Arthur, it was precisely your last fight that convinced us to vote in favor of this new dynamic. When Ricardo López was left severely cut by an accidental headbutt from Rosendo Álvarez, the doctor told you it was a dangerous cut and recommended stopping the fight, yet you let it continue.”
To which Arthur responded: “But José, I don’t speak Spanish and I didn’t understand what he said to me!”
My father burst out laughing and said: “Thank you, Arthur, your testimony has just ratified the decision made,” and he went to give his dear referee a hug.
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