WBC President Says That JC Chavez Jr. Is Like a Godson: Why It Seems Suspicious

Recently, Jose Sulaiman, the head of the WBC was quoted with saying that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was like a godson to him.  It was also followed by the statement that he must face Sergio Martinez to stay champion.  

While it's great to hear that the WBC is going to make someone as unproven as Chavez Jr. step up and face the best middleweight in the world and someone who should still be the WBC champion, the first part of that quote is distressing.

This may be the son of Mexico's most beloved boxer, Julio Cesar Chavez, but that statement is disconcerting.  After all, Sulaiman is supposed to be an impartial judge who decides what should decide what is best for the sport and one of its major champions.

Of course, that is a joke as the WBC has made a champion emeritus status and created interim champions along with the ludicrous diamond belt.  Still, Sulaiman and the WBC are supposed to at least not favor one boxer over the other. 

Sulaiman saying that Chavez Jr. is like family seems to cross the line, even with the notorious WBC.  And it may have already helped Chavez Jr. in his career.

Sergio Martinez was the WBC champion and also someone who was and still is quickly becoming a staple of HBO.  His mandatory was Sebatian Zbik, but HBO had no interest in the fight.  

When the station that pays a majority of a fighter's paycheck doesn't want to see a fight and a belt organization that will take some money away from a fighter does the choice is easy.  So Martinez decided to take a different fight and stay on HBO's boxing forefront.

It was understandable and it would have made sense if the WBC tried to work with him.  Instead, they stripped him of his belt, made him emeritus champion and put Zbik against Chavez Jr.  

The irony?

Chavez Jr. ended up fighting Zbik on HBO anyway.