The World Boxing Council has ordered the free negotiation to start between WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao, who is still smarting from a political defeat at the hands of incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio for the first district congressional seat in South Cotabato.
“The WBC is ruling the holding of the mandatory defense bout between the WBC world champion of the super featherweight Juan Manuel Marquez vs. his official challenger and WBC International champion Manny Pacquiao,” stated WBC president Jose Sulaiman in an e-mail to The Freeman.
The WBC is giving 30 days of free negotiations for both fighters to sign for a promotion. If no deal has been reached by June 18, a purse bid will take place at the WBC Executive Offices in Mexico City.
Fightnews.com hinted that it is unlikely an agreement will be reached between Marquez’ promoter Golden Boy and Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank and it is even more unlikely that the fight will happen anytime soon as both camps have been eying different fights.
Marquez is set for a September 15 rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas, while Arum is booking an October 6 date for Pacquiao against either against WBO super featherweight titlist Joan Guzman or the undefeated knockout artist Edwin Valero in Macau.
Marquez survived a frightening three knockdowns in the first round on the way to forge a majority draw against Pacquiao during WBA/IBF featherweight unification bout on May 8, 2004 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. — EBV