Comments Thread For: WBC Prez Stands Firm on Bivol, Explains Why Beterbiev is Not Affected By Ban on Russian Fighters

[JakeTheBoxer]

Yes Sulaiman you will change your mind when this fight will be announced in 2024 in the middle east , with all the other belts on the line.

[Monty Fisto]

Please explain how ***** will feel it. He's got slightly bigger fish to fry at the moment.

I don't think they are being fair to Bivol with this -- and the WBC are inconsistent at best -- but, all other things being equal, sporting boycotts do probably put a small amount of pressure on *****. We can argue about how much, but he does evidently seem to care about propaganda. Bivol competing as a Russian and winning undisputed as a Russian would count for something in favour of Russian propaganda. At the same time, this can be negated/mitigated by the WBC giving Bivol an easy hoop to jump through, such as creating a neutral WBC banner for him to fight under.

As an example, after Russia invaded the Crimea, they were allowed to host the football World Cup. FIFA took the stance that many are citing here that politics shouldn't have anything to do with sport, but in my opinion, that was wrong. It rewarded ***** and sent a message -- both to him and those beneath him that prop up his regime -- that he had got away with it.

Conversely, the international community is now attempting to create pressure by a variety of non-military means to make things uncomfortable for ***** and those that prop him up. Economic sanctions, for example. Those also hurt a lot of innocent people, but it's a better choice for the West than the other options on the table (do nothing or militarily confront Russia).

At the same time, Bivol is not entirely powerless to help himself. The more he severs ties with Russia, I imagine the less the WBC will have an issue with him fighting for his belt.

Finally, from the sounds of things, Sulaiman is most pissed off about his venue getting blown up by the Russians. Self-interest is a powerful motivation.

[jaded]

What a crock of ****.

[El_Maldito_Rey]

Woke Boxing Council is a joke.

[theface07]

Sulaiman claims the WBC stands against abuse of power. That's a good one coming from one of the most corrupt and hypocritical commission heads in the sport. I wish this guy would just go away, he puts his foot in his mouth every time he makes a public statement. Truth be told a Mexican cartel controls the WBC.

[Joseph]

I need to stop reading Bivol articles because I value having normal blood pressure.

Scumbags, thine moniker is WBC.

[TreD]

Let's admit the truth: he doesn't want Canelo to lose his belt. Pure and simple.

[Liondw]

I feel for the innocent civilians affected by the war.

But there's things we're not told about the Ukraine and Zelensky, things that are not good. But 'ey, this is boxingscene, not politics and corruption, even though boxing is deep into the latter.

The WBC is sketchy, dodgy.

[Wacked_Out]

Stop banning athletes over politics!

[sege64]

I'm pretty skeptical that Sulaiman's stance is really based on morals or ethics, and the Beterbiev situation is suspect too, but he has a good argument for it. Whatever the motive, not Sanctioning Russian boxers is the right call, so good result.