Boxing: WBC chief backs convicted Mayweather

LONDON: World Boxing Council (WBC) President Jose Sulaiman has said that welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather should not be stripped of his title despite being convicted and sentenced for domestic abuse. Though the WBC has not revealed its official stance on the matter, Sulaiman justified his opinion by reasoning that such punishment would put Mayweather’s potential mega-fight with Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquaio in doubt – a development which would disappoint boxing enthusiasts worldwide. Sulaiman played down the seriousness of Mayweather’s offence by stating that “beating a lady is highly critical, [but] it is not a major sin or crime”.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.