MEXICO CITY -- Jose Sulaiman, the longtime head of the World Boxing Council who promoted renowned fighters and introduced rules to protect boxers, died Thursday. He was 82. Sulaimans son, Mauricio Sulaiman, said the man who many say raised the profile of the sport in his four-decade leadership at the Mexico-based council died at a hospital in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center for months for a heart condition. The WBC confirmed his death, calling him the "father of boxing." Sulaiman was a member of boxings Hall of Fame since 2006. The son of a Syrian mother and a Lebanese father, Sulaiman was born on May 30 in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. He boxed as an amateur but quickly shifted over to working as a manager and a referee. He trained and promoted many fighters. Sulaiman is known for supporting Julio Cesar Chavez, Mexicos most famous boxer, and then the fighters son, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Most recently, Sulaiman helped Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, a young champion who last year challenged Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the richest fights ever. He lost to Mayweather. Sulaiman also managed to institute new rules and regulations regarding boxers safety and welfare. Among these changes was the reduction in the number of rounds from 15 to 12. Avery Bradley Clippers Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. Blake Griffin Jersey . The CFL unveiled its 2014 schedule Wednesday and the Redblacks will play their first-ever regular-season game in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers on July 3. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/ .com) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quickly found themselves a new offensive coordinator, and one thats quite familiar with the NFC South. Paul George Jersey . LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. Blake Griffin Clippers Jersey . -- Quarterback Josh Johnson has returned to the San Francisco 49ers and his former college coach, Jim Harbaugh.Paris, France - Roger Federer was among the winners Sunday in the first round of the French Open. The fourth-seeded Swiss didnt face a break point in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Slovakian Lukas Lacko on Court Chatrier. Federer won 39 of 44 points on first serve, swatted seven aces and held a lopsided edge in winners (40-13). The 2009 French Open champ was pleased to get off to a good start. "Theres always that little bit of feeling that if you dont feel well, if the opponent plays great and whatever happens, you could lose early. I was happy getting early signs out of the match that I was actually playing well and I was going to get my chances," said Federer, who is seeking a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title. Lacko, who was broken five times, has lost in the opening round 14 times in 20 major appearances. Sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, eighth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic, 10th- seeded American John Isner and 13th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga aalso advanced.dddddddddddd Berdych, a semifinalist at this clay-court Grand Slam in 2010, beat Canadian qualifier Peter Polansky 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, Raonic topped Australian wild card Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, Isner grinded out a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 win over French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Tsonga battled past countryman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 6-2. Other seeded winners included No. 15 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, No. 20 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, No. 22 Jerzy Janowicz of Poland and No. 31 Dmitry Tursunov of Russia. Youzhny rallied from two sets down to beat Spains Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0. American Sam Querrey, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, Finn Jarkko Nieminen, Czech Radek Stepanek, Kazakhstans Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Argentine Diego Sebastian Schwartzman also were victorious on Day 1. Rafael Nadal beat David Ferrer in last years final to capture a fourth straight and record eighth French Open title. ' ' '