Mandela dedicated his life to fight against apartheid, a political system developed in South Africa based on racial segregation. And for that he was imprisoned for 27 years. Two years after being released, he was elected by an overwhelming vote as President of South Africa, exercising his mandate with equality, wisdom and humanity.

For this reason, the World Boxing Council and its President Mauricio Sulaiman, commemorate the 101st anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, a historic, courageous and visionary leader, passionate boxing fan and exemplary human being.

The WBC Lifetime President and dear friend of Mandela, Don Jose Sulaiman, named him “King of Human Equality”; joining the tireless struggle to achieve human equality.

After experiencing the terrible racism on a trip that he made as a supervisor of the World Boxing Council to South Africa in 1971, and witnessing the appalling way people and boxers were mistreated due to rampant racism, Don Jose decided to fight against odious apartheid.

His very first act as President of the WBC, was to expel South Africa, prohibiting any boxer to fight in this country, as well as promoters and managers of that nation. Subsequently, this battle was taken up by other sports organizations as a flag to seek equality and to end discriminatory practices.

The culmination of this struggle was in 1985, when the United Nations Security Committee delivered an outstanding recognition to the WBC for this work, which together with the rest of humanity, ended the evil of apartheid.

Although Rugby has always been South Africa’s favorite sport, Mandela was a boxing Fan. He even practiced it in his youth. He used to compare equality with boxing, because up in  the ring, color, creed and social status are irrelevant.

Today we join the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and we remember him with some of his most emblematic phrases.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin, origin or religion. People have to learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can also be taught to love”

 “Sport has the power to transform the world. It has the power to inspire, to unite people like few things”

“Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world”

“The greatest glory is not never to fall, but always to get up”

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”