The Prez

El Universal provides weekly column space to --among other random figures like actress Edith González, whose writing rarely comes within miles of coherence-- José Sulaimán, president of the World Boxing Council. Sulaimán spent this week's piece tearing apart the idea of an Oscar de la Hoya-Manny Pacquiao bout, on the basis that the size difference would be too much to make the fight legitimate. He goes as far as to call the proposed scrap a "joke" and "an affront not only to the boxers, but to fans of the world of boxing." He also laments "those people who are only interested in money are trying to take over boxing," although he could have been speaking about himself there. 

Strong words. Given that this is the biggest bout you could make in boxing (with the possible exception of Klitschko vs. Klitschko), this is an odd argument to hear from a guy who benefits from boxing being popular. As to the size difference, Oscar is bigger but no insurmountably so. In short, the argument is dubious. Sulaimán must have an ax to grind, but I have no idea what it is. 

And, as long as we're on boxing, belated congratulations to Antonio Margarito for his win on Saturday in one of the most entertaining fights of the year. Hopefully, they'll do it again.