NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico – Filipino ringside physician Allan L. Recto will fly to Mexico City on July 4 to meet officials of the World Boxing Council (WBC) led by president Don Jose Sulaiman Chagnon and secretary general Mauricio Sulaiman in the WBC office.
Recto, who is based in Texas, will discuss with the WBC top honcos the recent historic victory of Manny Pacquiao over David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title in Las Vegas, the future of North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion and Philippine boxing in general.
Recto also wants to get the official decision of the WBC Board of Governors which recently nullified the disqualification victory of Franciso Lorenzo over Humberto Soto.
He said the decision of the Board of Governors is crucial since Soto is also among those being considered to face Pacquiao in the future.
Recto and Don Jose Sulaiman met during the “Lethal Combination” rumble at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on June 28 but missed each other after bout when all hell broke loose in the ring when the 29-year-old Filipino speedster disposed of Diaz, 32, in the ninth round to pocket his fourth world title in four different weight divisions.
Recto, who took care of Pacquiao’s medical needs during the preparation stage, had also informed Mauricio Sulaiman “he missed getting the gifts from Don Jose (mini-belts, shirts, etc.)” intended for Pacquiao who is now in the Philippines.
Recto further told Mauricio Sulaiman that “David Diaz, the defending champion, showed excellent heart and was a true sportsman. The Filipinos respect him a lot like the WBC.”
Recto will be at Concepcion’s corner as cut man when the young boxer from Aljoe Jaro stable fights a still unnamed foe in a 10-round appetizer of the welterweight unification fight between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 26.
Before going to the WBC headquarters, Recto will have a courtesy call with Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Antonio M. Lagdameo who is also an avid boxing fan.