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World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman has slammed the rise of "savage" mixed martial arts and believes they have sent boxing back to the caveman era.
Sulaiman, who is entering his 33rd year in charge of the (WBC), blasted the sport popularly known as 'cage fighting' and suggested its fans have no class.
"I oppose 100 percent this ultimate fighting. It has taken boxing to the era of the caveman and the Roman circus," said the Mexican.
"These are not ancient times. This fighting is fed to those fans who like aggression, blood and illegality. They are not boxing fans. Boxing fans have class."
Mixed martial arts (MMA) combines combat disciplines such as jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, freestyle wrestling and traditional boxing, with the Ultimate Fighting Championship the sport's leading US association.
Crimes
Fights usually take place over three or five, five-minute rounds, and can end by knockout, stoppage or submission.
Contests adhere to a set of rules that include bans on headbutting, groin kicks or kicking a downed opponent.
Sulaiman, 77, said he had worked tirelessly to make boxing a sport of "honour, dignity and respect" and was now working overtime to distance it from MMA, which has earned huge sums in Pay Per View revenues.
"They are forcing us to prove we are safer and forcing us to work hard and show people there is a difference," he said.
"There should be more control over these fights, they should not be accepted. They are intended crimes accepted by bloody people who love this savage fighting."
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