MANILA, Philippines - Kinondena ni Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez si World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman kaugnay sa nauna nitong pahayag na walang kuwenta ang kanilang pang-apat na laban ni Manny Pacquiao.
Ito ay dahil na rin sa kabiguan ni Sulaiman na maitaya ang WBC Diamond belt para sa Pacquiao-Marquez IV.
“I refused to fight for the (WBC) diamond belt. It’s worth it if you want to (be) categorized as champion, but being the best of a division is what counts,” wika ni Marquez sa BoxingScene.com.
Maglalaban sina Pacquiao at Marquez sa isang non-title welterweight fight, ngunit isang espesyal na World Boxing Organization ‘Champion of the Decade’ belt ang kanilang pag-aagawan at hindi ang WBC Diamond title.
Labis naman itong ikinagalit ni Sulaiman.
“It is a fight that only interests those in Mexico and the Philippines, and the match is not drawing attention anywhere else in the world,” ani Sulaiman.
Ayon kay Marquez, hindi mahalaga sa kanya kung anong titulo ang nakataya sa kanilang upakan ni Pacquiao.
“The sanctioning bodies do not make the fighter, the fighter makes the sanctioning body,” ani Marquez. “Therefore, I believe Mr. Sulaiman is upset because were are not fighting for the title.”