AT their Annual Convention today, the WBC passed a ruling that will prohibit fathers being chief-second to their son in WBC-regulated contests. The reasoning – delivered by President Mauricio Sulaiman – behind the move was over concerns that the father may not act in the best interest of their son if he’s in a difficult fight, and may let the bout go on longer than necessary.
While no commencement date was announced, it could have implications on the March 4 unification showdown between WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia – famously trained by his father, Angel Garcia – and WBA boss, Keith Thurman. It is not clear if the WBA’s involvement would allow the ruling to be enforced.
Other partnerships this could affect include Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Snr, should “Money” ever return, and Chris Eubank Jnr and Snr – who today announced an ITV pay-per-view event at super-middleweight – should they compete in WBC title fights.
Fathers will still be permitted to train their sons for WBC-regulated contests, and allowed in the corner, but not as the chief cornerman and decision-maker.
The motion was met with some resistance from the inaugural trainers committee that consists of Abel Sanchez, Joe Gallagher, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and Stacey McKinley, but was ultimately passed by the committee.
This is not the first time the WBC have discussed this ruling, with talk of enforcing it as far back as 2009.
Other subjects up for discussion at the trainers’ meeting today ws the amount of rounds fighters partake in per month in the lead-up to fights. No motion was passed, after Paul Malignaggi, who chaired the meeting, mentioned the monthly figure fluctuates from fighter to fighter, and can be dependant on the stage of training camp they’re at. Also, it was advised that fighters should not be permitted to spar unless they are within eight pounds of their fighting weight.
