Sulaiman Quits Boxing

President Sulaiman made an impassioned speech justifying his position to have Klitschko be allowed an optional defense in March, then defend against the Solis-Austin winner by June. Sulaiman felt the financial gain from two heavyweight title fights within ninety days would help ease the long standing WBC financial burden stemming from the $30,000,000 judgment against the WBC won by Graciano Rocchigiani. After that judgment in April 2003, the WBC declared bankruptcy, yet has maintained a six-figure monthly payment to Rocchigiani up until 2009, after which the WBC has been unable to make such payments. After an rejected attempt to settle in Germany with representatives of Rocchigiani, Sulaiman has felt the WBC can only go on with either making the payments out of his own pocket, or solicit help from promoters in clearing the aforementioned debt.
After more words amongst involved promoters, Don King, Tom Loeffler and Ahmet Öner, President Sulaiman took the microphone and emotionally abdicated his 35-year presidency to the astonishment of the gathered attendees. He rose from his seat on the dais, declared that he was resigning immediately as president and that the meeting would resume in 90 minutes, at which time the head microphone would be helmed by someone else. Don King then bellowed that he too was finished with boxing, at which time the room emptied. Loeffler, Öner and King accompanied Sulaiman to his suite, in an effort to iron things out and perhaps to encourage the long reigning president to have a change of heart. More to come…