The WBC said the handlers of the two fighters should act as soon as possible. If no agreement is reached, the boxing council will be forced to conduct a purse bid in Mexico City on Jan. 12 next year.
If this happens, any other promoter outside than those of the two fighters can bid to stage the fight sometime next year. It will be the second between Barrera and Pacquiao.
Barrera is being promoted by Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, which is now locked up in a bitter dispute with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions on the rights for Pacquiao.
Golden Boy and Top Rank both have "contractual claims" over Pacquiao and might have to settle the issue in the court, hopefully in the coming weeks or ahead of the Jan. 12 deadline imposed by the WBC.
Pacquiao signed a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy last Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. But shortly after Pacquiao defeated Erik Morales last Nov. 19 in Las Vegas, Top Rank announced that it has signed the Filipino to a four-year pact.
Arum promoted the Pacquiao-Morales III and said that under the contract for their third fight, the Filipino southpaw cannot sign up with any other promoter until after the Nov. 19 bout.
This, Arum said, made Pacquiao’s contract with Golden Boy illegal.
Arum stunned the media during the Pacquiao-Morales post-fight conference when he said that Pacquiao has renounced his contract with Golden Boy, and has opted to stick it out with Top Rank for the next four years.
Pacquiao even returned the $500,000 bonus he received from Golden Boy. But Golden Boy reportedly shipped the money back to Pacquiao.
Weeks before the Grand Finale, the WBC ordered Barrera to face the winner between Pacquiao and Morales.
The reigning super-featherweight champion said he wanted to face Pacquiao as soon as possible, and has in fact targeted March 11 as the date for his rematch with Pacquiao, who knocked the Mexican out in 11 rounds almost three years ago.
Three other fighters – Edwin Valero, Joan Guzman or Juan Manuel Marquez – are being lined up as Pacquiao’s next opponent. But they may have to wait a while should Pacquiao and Barrera, and their promoters, come to terms.