Sulaiman explain : why the pope Blessed and sign FURY – Usyk title belt for the upcoming heavyweight showdown

The upcoming heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship has captured global attention, even reaching the highest echelons of the Vatican. In an unprecedented move, Pope Francis personally blessed and signed the WBC belt that will be contested by Fury and Usyk on May 18, marking a historic moment in boxing history.

This clash between Britain’s Fury and Ukraine’s Usyk marks the first undisputed heavyweight title bout in a quarter of a century, with both fighters vying for the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight championships. The WBC, recognizing the significance of the event, commissioned a new title belt adorned with Ukrainian and British emblems on its straps.

Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, recounted the momentous occasion when he presented the belt to Pope Francis. Sulaiman shared that the Pope, known for his commitment to values-based initiatives, immediately embraced the concept of “Boxing with Values,” a program aimed at instilling virtues through the sport of boxing. The Pope’s foundation, known for its “Football with Values” program, welcomed the opportunity to extend its reach to boxing, promoting positive values and ethics among participants.

During the meeting, Pope Francis blessed and signed the belt, symbolizing his support for the event and the values it represents. Sulaiman recounted the Pope’s impartial stance, ensuring that both sides of the belt were signed to maintain neutrality. The Pope, Sulaiman revealed, refrained from expressing favoritism towards either fighter, eagerly anticipating the outcome of the highly anticipated bout.

Despite boxing and the Holy See appearing as an unlikely pairing, Sulaiman emphasized the Pope’s recognition of the sport’s potential to promote social values and empower individuals. Drawing upon the Pope’s analogy of the cobra and the mongoose, Sulaiman highlighted the lessons of resilience, strategy, and overcoming adversity inherent in boxing.

As the world eagerly awaits the Fury versus Usyk showdown on May 18, the Pope’s blessing of the championship belt serves as a powerful symbol of unity, sportsmanship, and the universal appeal of boxing as a vehicle for positive change.