Champs at LA Press Conference
A group of prizefighters will be taking off the boxing gloves and picking up the golf clubs next month at the first-ever World Boxing Council’s WBC Cares Celebrity Pro Am Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 8 at the Morongo Casino Resort’s Tukwet Canyon Course in the city of Beaumont.
This inaugural event was officially announced on Wednesday at the Taix French Restaurant located on the famed Sunset Boulevard.
Here is my special report and snapshots from the luncheon that was attended by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, golf host (and former title contender) Ruben Castillo, former/current pro boxers/Olympians including Prince Charles Martin, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Henry Tillman, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Armando Muniz and legendary jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. (9,530 career victories). Also lending support were TV and radio personality Teresa Quevedo, WBC’s Pepe Sulaiman, Deborah Hawkins, Nancy Rodriguez, Supreme Boxing’s Jennifer Arredondo, event sponsors such as Keven Pedersen (Family of Athletes, FOA) and more who were among a group of media assembled.
The prizefighters and VIP guests received special-edition green golf shirts courtesy of Family of Athletes (FOA)’s Keven Pedersen, who traveled with his wife and son from Salinas to join the WBC as they kicked off this charity golf tourney benefiting the WBC Cares Retired Boxers Fund. The FOA golf attire was a big hit as the fighters were all enthusiastic when receiving their new shirts adorned with a WBC golf ball logo.
During the intros, President Sulaiman spoke of how WBC Cares group (with Chair Jill Diamond, etc.) continues to give back to the boxing community and beyond; it was a dream of his late father Don Jose Sulaiman to create and build this fund for the fighters in need. The nonprofit charity looks forward to presenting a July 7 Meet & Greet and their July 8 golf tournament and awards dinner (with live entertainment by comedian Willie Barcena) where participants can mingle with sports stars and familiar faces from the entertainment world.
The WBC touts: “My blood is green, my heart is gold” and come July 8, the WBC team and their champs and loyal supporters will give of their time and dedication at this SoCal outing. While the punchers are used to taking swings inside the ropes, come July 8 they will be swinging on the greens at the Morongo resort.
Slugger Ruben Castillo, who had 69 wins as a pro boxer, told us that Jose Sulaiman was a father figure to him and he is honored to be part of this brand new golf tournament. Castillo promised to make this bash “bigger and better” each year. And the WBC family of boxing continues to unite in helping others.
As guests dined on beef and fish at the historic Taix restaurant, the sluggers shared their excitement in being part of this summer event benefiting a worthwhile cause. Tournament sponsors include Family of Athletes, Don Elias Premium Tequila, the PGA and Cleto Reyes.
During the welcome speeches, each boxer was introduced and brought up for a group photo. A surprise presentation also took place as President Sulaiman honored Teresa Quevedo with a gold and green championship belt. The journalist and news anchor (Univision and Telemundo) has been a boxing supporter for years. An emotional Quevedo thanked the organization and spoke from the heart. She told me how honored she was to be presented with a belt of her own as a “WBC Honorary Champion.”
As the golden belt shined under the lights, President Sulaiman, the boxing champs and Olympians (Muniz and Tillman), horse-racing jockey Pincay, Jr. and Quevedo held up their fists and golf clubs as they look ahead to their first-ever WBC Charity Golf Tournament!
Photos by Michele Chong
