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06/06/2008 Archived Entry: "World Boxng Council News"
World Boxng Council News
Press Release
MEXICO CITY, June 5, 2008 -- WBC President Jose Sulaiman recently lent a helping hand to the surviving child of a fallen fighter. Speaking candidly, he shed some light on this this bittersweet story.
“The family of Jimmy Garcia received yesterday the money from the life insurance policy of the WBC, which was finally paid to Jimmy’s young daughter," says Sulaiman. "This insurance could not be paid to the girl until the time that she reached the legal age of 18.
“On May 6, 1995, in Las Vegas , Nevada , Jimmy Garcia, after having serious problems during the weigh-in, fought and lost to Gabriel Ruelas. He was taken to the hospital and passed away on May 19."
He continues, “The WBC had a life insurance for over $200,000 and I, as WBC President, had to travel to Barranquilla, Colombia, to settle between Jimmy’s mother, his wife and two daughters, and one other son who was one year old. Finally, an acceptable and honest division of the money was agreed to, but the money could only be paid when the children reached the legal age.
“There is one payment of the insurance money that is still pending until the boy reaches the legal age.
“The WBC is very proud of this life and hospitalization insurance, which covers not only the boxers in WBC world championship fights, but every boxer on a WBC world championship fight card. This rule was implemented in 1977 at the WBC’s annual convention in Madrid, Spain, and has run uninterrupted for 31 consecutive years. It has helped many boxers, even when the WBC has not publicized it.
“No WBC fight in the world takes place without the WBC’s required life and hospitalization insurance, and nobody except the WBC requires life and hospitalization policies for the boxers on their events.
“I am so happy that this little girl, who I met when she was about five years old, was able to have some assistance after such a terrible tragedy.”
