WBC President Jose Sulaiman passes away at age 82

Jose Sulaiman, who served as WBC President starting in 1976, has passed away at age 82 in Los Angeles.

Sulaiman had a heart operation in October, but suffered complications on December 30 and never recovered. He was in critical condition at the UCLA Medical Center for over three months.

In his younger days, he was an amateur boxer, trainer, promoter, referee, and judge, and joined the WBC in 1968. Over the years, he did some good things for boxing, but will certainly be most remembered for controversies and as one of the key figures in boxing's shadier side for the past 40 years.

It's obviously too soon to know who the next WBC President will be. Many will expect Jose's son Mauricio Sulaiman, currently an executive with the sanctioning body, to take over, but we'll have to wait and see.

Bad Left Hook sends our best wishes out to the Sulaiman family and Jose's friends and loved ones.