LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Jose Sulaiman, who ran the World Boxing Council (WBC) for 38 years, died on Thursday in a California hospital after a lengthy illness, the boxing organisation announced. He was 82.

"We deeply regret to inform the passing away of our dearest president Don Jose Sulaiman, may he rest in peace," the WBC said on its Twitter site on Thursday night.

The Mexican died at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), ESPN reported. He underwent heart bypass surgery in October.

Sulaiman had been hospitalised in UCLA's intensive care unit since late last year. He was unable to attend the WBC annual convention in November in Thailand.

Even though he was in hospital, he remained president right up to his death. The council honoured him by naming him President For Life at the Bangkok convention.

His son, Mauricio Sulaiman, is expected to take charge of the council, ESPN said.