By James Blears
Hundreds of friends arrived at Hacienda De Los Morales Restaurant in the Mazarik area of Mexico City from all over the World, to help World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman celebrate the 80th birthday with his family.
Flamboyant Promoter Don King who’ll catch up in the age stakes on August 20th, quoted George Bernard Shaw to a gobsmacked audience declaring: “Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream of things that never were… and say why not?” But then, rapid fire, he added his own dose of reality by stressing: “You don’t get nothing from sleep but dreams, so when you wake you’ve got to be ever vigilant and work.”
Don King explaining management skills are the key to longevity in boxing, suggesting: “I’m a promoter of the people, for the people and by the people. And my magic lies in my people ties!”
Jose Sulaiman himself told BoxingScene.com: “This is one of the happiest days of my life. To get to be eighty years old is not easy. God has to come and help you. Everyone who is here, knows what boxing is and that’s what’s very nice about this.”
Cancun business tycoon, newspaper owner and boxing promoter Pepe Gomez praised Jose Sulaiman as: “An example of success, tenacity and discipline. A person who helps others in need and a great friend.”
Boxing Champions breaking bread included: Hector Macho Camacho, Humberto Chiquita Gonzalez, Humberto Zorrita Soto, Erik Morales, Carlos Zarate, Lupe Pintor and Mariana Juarez.
And Singer Marco Antonio Muniz, a mere two years younger than Jose Sulaiman, and who’s singing voice overwhelms even the vocal cords of Don King, sang happy birthday.
Jose Sulaiman took time to pay a special tribute to great champion and his friend of many years Raul Raton Macias, who died from cancer on March 23rd 2009.