Nelson Mandela hailed as `King of Human Equality'

The World Boxing Council proclaimed South Africa's Nelson Mandela as "King of Human Equality" in recognition of his decades-long struggle against racial segregation in his country.

Mandela, an amateur boxer in his youth, was honoured in the context of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Mexico-based WBC.

The sporting organization's board voted unanimously to recognize the former South African president, WBC head Jose Sulaiman said.

The WBC noted Mandela's imprisonment for his opposition to the system of racial segregation known as apartheid and praised his later commitment as president "to rule with absolute respect for equal rights for all, without considering any act against those who had him in prison for 27 years".

Muhammad Ali was declared "King of Boxing" at the WBC's December 2012 convention in the Mexican resort city of Cancun.