WBC president recalls being ‘mistreated so bad’ by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing during Canelo vs Crawford

The president of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaiman has an especially negative recollection of Zuffa Boxing’s inaugural event, Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.

Last September, Turki Alalshikh and UFC president Dana White hosted considered one of the largest boxing events in recent history when Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford clashed for the undisputed super middleweight title.

The mega-event was White’s first real foray into the world of boxing, and it was marketed under the TKO Boxing banner, which has since been modified to Zuffa Boxing.

And although numerous fans are excited to see the footprint White leaves on the planet of boxing, not everyone seems to be a fan of his plans for the game.

WBC president recalls being ‘mistreated’ by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing

Since his emergence into the world of boxing, White has caused numerous controversy along with his plans to alter or amend the Muhammad Ali Act.

And since of that, he hasn’t exactly made friends with the sanctioning bodies, just like the WBC and the WBA along with his ‘one-belt’ plans.

Because the clash between Canelo and Crawford was for the four-belts, members of the sanctioning bodies were in attendance for the fight, and considered one of them was the WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman.

And talking in a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Sulaiman has recounted being ‘mistreated so bad’ by the now-Zuffa Boxing.

“I used to be mistreated so bad in Las Vegas for Canelo vs Crawford. Me and the opposite three organizations, WBO, WBA, IBO, we weren’t even given credentials, we were told we couldn’t get into the ring. We weren’t allowed to enter the dressing room, we weren’t allowed to be on the commission desk.

“After we go to a fight, we go to work, it just isn’t a vacation or for fun or as a fan or reporter, we’re there to work. They’re fighting for our championships… It was very disappointing. (We were) never (given a reason).

“We got a ticket to enter the fight outside of the technical zone, just with the regular public.”

Sulaiman continues to be critical of White’s decision to try and change the Muhammad Ali Act, which has caused a friction of their relationship, or potential of 1.

Sulaiman claims he continues to be willing to work with Zuffa Boxing

Despite the clear lack of relationship between Zuffa Boxing and the sanctioning bodies, the promotion has recently signed several top talent, including Jai Opetaia, who holds two of the Cruiserweight titles.

And with Opetaia hopeful of fighting for the undisputed Cruiserweight title soon, Sulaiman has claimed that he can be willing to work with Zuffa Boxing in the long run, under one condition.

“They’re welcome, in the event that they wanna do a unification fight, in the event that they wanna promote boxing (let’s do it). In fact (I would like to work with them), but they need to comply with the principles and the structure.”