Star Of the Month

NABF STAR: Mike “The Class Act” George

February 7, 2012
NABF

Mike George

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.

 Jill: What does it mean to be an NABF/WBC Supervisor?
 
Mike:      It is a honor to be part of a great prestige organization. I’ve always held the NABF/WBC in high esteem. My cousin Jose Sulaiman, was a founding member and President of the NABF when I was coming of age. I was proud of his early accomplishments and with the years, his leadership of the WBC. 
         Being a supervisor of the NABF/WBC, I enjoy overseeing the process of fairness of the sport and the good feeling knowing that the winner will be in the ring. The officials of the NABF/WBC are truly world class. They get it right.
         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? 

Mike: Making evenly matched good fights. I like the idea of the tournaments, as well as internet TV, such as SULJOS TV.

Jill: What are your feelings about Open Scoring?

Mike:  It is a time that is past due.  It works period. I’m constantly working the idea with the commissions to at least try it on evenly matched fights with good fighters and agreeable promoters.
 

Jill:  Who inspired you? Boxing? Life?

Mike:  My father, who taught me to always take adversity head on and be a better person for it. In boxing, my cousin Jose and in life, Mohammad Ali. 

 Jill: A match you’d like to see? 

Mike:    Any fight in which a boxer fights in his natural weight and mutually agrees to the contest.

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.

Jill:. Future plans? Life outside the ring?
 
Mike:  I feel blessed to have good health, my supporting wife, MaryEllen and great friends.
 
Jill: OK… What would be your Ring Song?
 
Mike:  Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix.
 
 
That’s a wrap.
Mike
 

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