by Ronnie Nathanielsz

World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman, his son and executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman and the members of the leading boxing organization in the world have honored the late founding secretary general Rodrigo “Rudy” Salud by awarding him a commemorative championship belt.

The famous green and gold belt was handed over to Salud’s son, current Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Angelico “Chito” Salud by respected international referee Bruce McTavish along with this reporter/columnist of the Inquirer and Viva Sports TV boxing commentator.

The WBC had earlier declared three days of mourning after Salud passed away recently,  a few days before his 73rd birthday.

Sulaiman referred to Salud as his mentor and served under the distinguished lawyer who also wrote the Constitution and By Laws of the WBC in the Ratings Committee which Salud headed for some  years.

In accepting the commemorative belt, Commissioner Salud said “On behalf of my late father and our family I would like to thank Don Jose Sulaiman and the WBC officials and other member countries for this wonderful honor being bestowed on my father.”

Salud added, “we want to thank Don Jose for his friendship and for his support of Philippine boxing. As my father would always say, he would accept this for his country.”

At the WBC Convention held in November 2007 in Manila, Sulaiman presented Rudy Salud with the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award.”