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The Last Word (Hopefully) On the Alejandra Jiminez Issue

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The Last Word (Hopefully) On the Alejandra Jiminez Issue

On Wednesday, I wrote a story that posted on Bad Left Hook. The subject matter focused on fighter Alejandra Jiminez, a 32 year old native of Mexico, who fought Franchon Crews Dezurn on Saturday, and won a split decision in Texas, in a scrap that screened on DAZN.

The night of, and days after, there existed chatter on social media; bottom line, some people speculated as to whether Jiminez is a woman, or a man. In some pictures, she looks quite masculine.

The Bad Left Hook delved a bit into the issue. I also emailed the head of the WBC, the sanctioning body which sent out a letter coming to the defense of Jiminez.

Mauricio Sulaiman responded to my email on Thursday morning.

Here is the exchange:

Sulaiman: Jesus ! Didn’t you read our news ? I have known HER for 7 years . I know her parents, her girl …..

How can you think the wbc would allow something like this !!!
Woods, responding to Sulaiman: Michael, not Jesus.

The story didn't say you knew her for 7 years. I don't read minds, so I didn't know how you knew the information.
I am working on learning mind reading, it will help in this ridiculous age we are in.
What an age it is, yes?
Anyway, the most salient point here is this: Sulaiman has know Jiminez for seven years. He can vouch that she was all lady when she birthed her daughter. So, that should, I think, be enough for folks who think she might be a fella.

Here is the letter the WBC sent out:

 

It is shameful and regrettable to read the irresponsible, defamatory, discriminatory and untrue comments on social media concerning Alejandra Jimenez, our proud WBC Super Middleweight World Champion. The individuals writing such rubbish and the organizations publishing it have zero moral integrity. It is the WBC’s duty to set the record straight and stop the horrible and inhuman attack on a person who is an example and motivation to the world.

In a sport like boxing, which traditionally has prided itself for being accepting of people from all strata of life and on the diversity of its participants, our Champion Alejandra Jimenez is being the target of attacks for having the courage to live an openly gay lifestyle and manifesting an appearance that is pleasing to her and her community.

Alejandra Jimenez is being bullied and deprived of the most deserving moment of glory . She should be lauded and praised as the role model she is. Instead, she finds herself having to defend her appearance and lifestyle.

Alejandra Jimenez is a 31-year-old single mother. She gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Ailime, at the age of 21. As a young woman, after the birth of her daughter, Alejandra was excessively overweight. At the age of 23, she found a boxing gym, which eventually changed her life. She made her professional boxing debut 5 years ago at the age of 26.

Alejandra has worked very hard and has overcome all type of obstacles. She reached the maximum glory in her sport by winning the WBC Heavyweight World Championship against Martha Salazar in Cancun in March of 2016.

She then inspired herself and through exemplary effort and sacrifice set her goal to fight at a considerably lower weight in the Super Middleweight division. This past Saturday night Alejandra defeated Franchon Crews Dezurn and became the WBC Super Middleweight World Champion. In route of doing so, Alejandra subjected herself to a complex out-of-competition anti-doping testing protocol conducted through the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). Each and every test result was negative.

The WBC is often questioned because it has the strongest and most protective health and safety standards in women’s boxing including, but not limited to: VADA anti-doping testing; ten-round bout limit; two-minute per round duration; safer glove sizes; and mandatory pre-bout pregnancy testing. We also have a history of social activism to promote fairness and diversity in the sport and in the human condition including widely promoted public campaigns to combat bullying and drug use, and to promote sportsmanship and inclusion in and out of the ring.

The false and completely unsubstantiated accusations hurled at our WBC World Super Middleweight Champion, Alejandra Jimenez, offend the boxing community as well as society, but most importantly, Alejandra.

The WBC remains proud of our Champion, Alejandra Jimenez, her amazing accomplishments, and continue to stand by her through her glory.

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL

Founder/editor Michael Woods got addicted to boxing in 1990, when Buster Douglas shocked the world with his demolition of the then-impregnable Mike Tyson. The Brooklyn-based journalist has covered the sport since for ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, Bad Left Hook and RING. His journalism career started with NY Newsday in 1999. Michael Woods is also an accomplished blow by blow and color man, having done work for Top Rank, DiBella Entertainment, EPIX, and for Facebook Fightnight Live, since 2017.