By Mark Vester
In a move that is sure to create a lot of controversy, José Sulaimán, president of the WBC, is proposing a rule to set an age limit of 39 for fighters who are challenging for a title under the rule of the sanctioning body. Sulaiman says he is concerned about the growing trend of fighters who are 40-years-old, and older, coming back to the sport and getting hurt by much younger fighters. The story is creating major buzz in Puerto Rico and is sure to gain steam in other countries.
"I can tell that it's going to be a very controversial idea. There are a lot of boxers who are 39 to 40 in some divisions," said José 'Toto' Peñagarícano, president of the Boxing Commission in Puerto Rico, speaking with El Nuevo Dia. "You can't stop someone from the right to earn a living if they pass of the medial exams and get authorized to fight."
Felix Trinidad Sr. sees the rule as something that should be taken into account on a case by case basis.
"It depends on the quality of the fight. This is a business, but the sanctioning bodies should watch a fighter does to get to a title fight," Trinidad Sr. said. "He should be allowed to fight based on his merits. They have to see how the fighter did in his last couple of fights and if they passed all of their medical exams without problems."
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