Perhaps one of the most eclective men in boxing, a renassaince person, a lover of the sport and of its people… our own Mike George, steps into the Ring. Who hasn’t been embroiled in a conversation with the unique Mr. George, never knowing where it would end up; like a spring board into phoilosophy, tao and down and dirty .. “no, he should’ve taken a point.” To know him is to admire his, quite, steady manner. He brings so much to the sport, to the table and to the NABF.
Jill: How did you become involved in Boxing?
Mike: It was in 2006. I had received a phone call from my cousin Mauricio Sulaiman, who asked if I could supervise a USNBC fight in Providence, RI. The WBC had no representation in the Northeast, so being from Rhode Island, I agreed. The title was new, the RI commission was new. What could go wrong I asked? Well, lets just say I was initiated to boxing. It was fun. Mauricio is a good teacher in showing me the ropes.
I would be be remiss not to mention my mentor and friend, our President Joe Dwyer, whose knowledge of boxing and guidance makes it all the more enjoyable.
Jill: What can be done to help the sport regain it’s past popularity?
Jill: What are your feelings about Open Scoring?
Jill: Who inspired you? Boxing? Life?
Jill: A match you’d like to see?
Jill: Do you think boxing should be federally regulated in the US?
Mike: In a fundamental capacity only. The WBC takes the lead. The sport should be self regulating with the safety of the fighters being paramount to all else. Politics and self interest have no place in boxing.
Jill: If you could change something about the sport, what would it be?
Mike: Nothing, to me the sport of boxing is raw unfiltered energy and emotion where it is always put on the line and left in the ring. Like the early days of Rock and Roll.
Jill: Favorite moment?
Mike: Meeting Joe Louis at the second Ali/Frazier fight in Madison Square Garden. I will never forget the softness of his hand when we shook hands. It was softer than the hand of my 80 year old grandmother.
Jill: Do you think sanctioning bodies make a difference? If so, how?
Mike: Without question, the WBC leads the parade, a fighters welfare is the only importance.