The WBC has announced its World Cup Tournament has been postponed, resulting in the cancellation of the entire Iron Mike Productions-presented show scheduled on November 15, 2013 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The postponement is out of respect to WBC president and World Cup founder, Jose Sulaiman, who is recovering from recent heart surgery. The event will not be rescheduled and refunds are available at point of purchase.
The main event and co-feature fights, slated to be part of the World Cup’s opening round, were going to air live on Fox Sports I.
The WBC issue the following statement:
The WBC has asked the promoters and participants of the WBC World Cup Tournament, which has been the dream of our President Jose Sulaiman, to postpone the inauguration of the tournament as a sign of respect and solidarity for his current medical condition as he recovers from his recent heart surgery.
Jose Sulaiman worked tirelessly for several years to put together the formidable World Cup, which is a tournament between all WBC affiliated federations champions to determine the best of the division, with the winner to become a challenger of the reigning champion.
The postponement would allow our President to be involved in all the activities which he had so passionately dedicated toward its implementation, with the support of the WBC 19s 10 Continental federations.
All our efforts in the WBC will be concentrated in the successful recuperation of Jose Sulaimán, who is presently recovering at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
“I have known Mr. Jose Sulaiman since I was a teenager,” Iron Mike Productions president Mike Tyson said.
“His recovery is of great importance to me and I am sending my prayers to the Sulaiman’s and the WBC Family. Professionally, we look forward to being a part of the WBC Cup tournament when it is reinstated. In the interim we will continue getting our fighters exciting fights.”
