By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The City of Miami honored WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman on August 20, 2013 before he underwent heart surgery and later passed away with the key to the city.
Now, Mayor Tomas Regalado will repeat that historic, emotion-laden event when he presents the key to the City this time to Don Jose’s son and successor as WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman.
The WBC website recalls that the 2013 ceremony took place at the Main Salon of the Miami City Hall in the presence of legendary boxing promoter Don King who was celebrating his 82nd birthday who was there to join the Sulaiman family in the celebration.
Mayor Regalado highlighted and praised the work of Don Jose and described him as a great leader who worked tirelessly over many years to strengthen boxing’s safety measures and to greatly increase its appeal and popularity.
The WBC said “for Mayor Tomas Regalado Miami has been a great pro boxing venue and the work that president Mauricio Sulaiman is now doing is of vital importance for the continuing regeneration of this great city as the hub of the noble art.”
The WBC website added, “for these very reasons Mauricio Sulaiman’s unstinting labor will be honored with the distinction awarded to those who work, serve and help to better – a distinction earned by himself and Don Jose, carried out with great love, devotion and constant dedication.”