The influence of boxing on the celebration of May 5

Mauricio Sulaimán, President of the World Boxing Council (WBC), he recalled in his column to El Herado de México the influence boxing has had on the celebration of May 5th.

This date commemorates the Battle of Pueblaoccurred in 1862, in which the Mexican Army defeated a superior French army.

Although in Mexico May 5 represents an important date, Mexicans in the United States celebrate this date as the Latino Pride Day, which gives it a different relevance to this date.

Here is Mauricio Sulaimán’s column:

Today absolutely all Mexicans know the meaning of the celebration of the May 5th; we know it’s about the Battle of Puebla, the defense of our territory against the French invasion.

But it would not be the case if this celebration had not taken root through the force of the migrants in the United States, and boxing had a lot to do to position this date as a great event.

Yeah it was boxing duties in Las Vegas those that gave it the dimension of a national holiday, and for more than 30 years, the most important fights in the world have been taking place on the weekend close to this date, and at 16 of September.

Our migrants started this tradition of celebrating May 5 with important fights, mainly in California and Texas. Since Rubén Pugas Olivares, Carlos Zarate And till Salvador Sánchez, among many more, and that we are talking about 50 years ago.

But it was in the 90’s when they stayed as bases on May 5 and September 16 for promoters and larger television stations, to put together their annual calendar.

Great representatives of our country have fought on this important date. For example, the three feathers: Erik Terrible Morales, Juan Manuel Márquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Also the filipino Manny pacquiao It starred up to three dates in Las Vegas.

The post office has been passed from legend to legend. Julio César Chávez transferred it to Oscar de la hoya; The golden boy to Floyd Mayweather, who owned for four years in a row!

And currently who is the boss in world boxing is Saúl Álvarez. Canelo took the post in 2016, when he defeated Britain’s Amir Khan, after defending his WBC middleweight world title. This was not his first appearance on a May 5, as in 2012, he defeated Shane Mosley on a card he shared with Mayweather.

In 2017 he defeated Julio César Chávez Jr., and the following year, the second fight was scheduled against GGG Golovkin, a fight that had to be held until September over the unfair controversy of the Mexican positive for clenbuterol.

In 2019 he defeated Danny Jacobs, and just yesterday, it should have been held in Las Vegas, against Billy Joe Saunders.

Some of the great nights held on May 5 are:

• Julio César Chávez He regained his WBC Super Lightweight World Championship by defeating Frankie Randall at the MGM in Las Vegas in 1994.
• Juan Manuel Marquez he gets off the canvas three times in the first round to draw against Manny Pacquiao in the first of his four fights; this in 2004.
• Oscar de la hoya knocked out the Nicaraguan warrior in six rounds Ricardo Mayorga, in 2006.
• Mayweather He won the WBC super welterweight title, beating De La Hoya in 2007.
• Mayweather beat Miguel Cotto, while El Canelo, Shane Mosley in a great doubleheader that was held in 2012.
• Floyd defeated Manny Pacquiao in 2015, which is considered the fight. most important in history in terms of money it was generated: higher box office, sale in PPV and income for boxers.

Memorial belts

The WBC instituted a special trophy to commemorate these two Mexican dates when the world is focused on fighting.

These are two Aztec events carried out by the governing body of the boxing world, based in Mexico. It is a gift that our country and this sport gives the world with unique pieces, made by indigenous communities, which represent the diversity of cultures.

In 2017 it was Huichol’s turn; to Chiapas, in 2018; Mayan in 2019, and in 2020, two cultures of the State of Mexico were chosen to teach the world its greatness. For this May, the Mazahua belt was produced, and for September, the Otomi.

Unfortunately there was no fight yesterday night. Canelo, who owns the Huichol and Maya belts (May 5) and Chiapaneco (September 16) would have faced Saunders.

The WBC is evaluating the different alternatives for the mazahua (May 5) to find a place that will be placed for eternity.

Did you know…?

Floyd Mayweather received the WBC Emerald Belt as a special award, after defeating Manny Pacquiao. This sash holds the Guinness Record for being the most expensive sports trophy in sports history.

Today’s anecdote

I was with my dad at the hotel Las Vegas Hilton, when the phone rang and I hear him get very excited, and he says to me: “Mijito comes down to the lobby, and brings my Soul brother“

After a long conversation between them, we went down to eat, and I witnessed an endless account of anecdotes and stories of their experiences. That night my dad gave me as a watchword that he was very good during the fight. I had to sit in the front row and we lived that victory of Chavez about El Chapo Rosario.

We end the night with a dinner in which José Sulaimán and his brother of the soul, Don William Abraham Dáguer, they enjoyed to the fullest. Today we remember him, who has just completed 15 years of taking the path of no return, but his memory lives on and motivates thousands of people to be better human beings day after day.

With information from El Heraldo de México