By Ronnie Nathanielsz
In a tremendous response to a special event to commemorate the late Don Jose Sulaiman, legendary president of the World Boxing Council more than four thousand runners participated in the first “Race of Champions- Jose Sulaiman,” in Mexico City.
The WBC reported that the impressive lineup of champions who participated in this simultaneous six and twelve kilometer race were: Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez, Edgar Sosa, Mariana “Barbie” Juárez, her sister Lourdes, Pablo and Iván Cano, Julio “Pollito” Ceja, Daniel Estrada, Daniel Zaragoza, Silver champion Jessica Chávez, Jhonny González, interim champion Jessica González, Referee Lupe García, Silver youth champion Damien Hooper, Ibeth la “Roca” Zamora, Rey Vargas, Jose Luis Bueno, Zulina “Loba” Muñoz, Daniel Evangelista, José “Jaguar” Aguirre and Irma García.
WBC superstar champion Julio Cesar Chavez regarded as the greatest Mexican fighter of all-time, rang the start bell and received a standing ovation from the runners and the huge crowd, who did not lose the opportunity to greet their idol before the race.
The WBC said that in a highly emotional speech delivered by the manager of the Sports Institute of Mexico City, Horacio de la Vega, before the start, he recalled Jose Sulaiman Chagnon- as the man who humanized and revolutionized boxing.
All attendees the champions, former champions, challengers and other boxing personalities and participants paid a deserved tribute to the late WBC president that concluded in a minute's applause in memory of the WBC's great leader for nearly four decades.
Don Jose’s son and executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman who is strongly favored to take succeed his, late father thanked the everybody for their participation and gave a speech, expressing how important it is to promote sport. He also wished luck and success to all the runners.
Accompanied by their children and even costumed pets, thousands of runners participated in, and thoroughly enjoyed a superb event.